Internet chat for kids

[scotchbroth1]

Not really an education topic but very much a primary age one. My DD is 8 and DS 10, and I wondered at what point people start allowing them to use chat services over the internet. Obviously many chatrooms are wholly unsuitable and very adult nature. I have heard about Club Penguin, and of course using MSN/YIM etc. for only real life friends (not random people on the web). I know we have our part to play as well in keeping them safe as well with the usual guidelines on personal info etc.

My dcs 10 and 11 have been using both Club Penguin and MSN for a couple of years to chat to their r/l friends. DS uses roblox and talks to (we assume) kids he doesn't know but they talk about the game that they're playing not real life.

They both have facebook accounts (which is obviously controversial) but our computers are in the living room and they can't access their accounts if I'm (dp is a bit illiterate when it comes to social networking) not here.
They are both really sensible and know the rules!

Using chat in the context of a game my DS plays has improved his writing skills no end.....

The other gamers are far more direct than his teachers at telling him they can't understand a word he's typed

Thanks both. Not heard of Roblox so will check out. I don't approve of Facebook for little ones though the privacy settings might keep only real life friends in the frame if used correctly.

Does anyone have a blanket rule that they only talk to people they already know in case somone posing as a child is in fact an adult?

Those who created the rules governing internet chatrooms, back in the late 1990s in the USA, stated that no children under 13s should use chatrooms, and most chatrooms have an age limit pre entry.