kids and the media

This weekend I was talking to my cousin Caleb(8) about school, his friends, and his favorite things to do. When I asked him what his very favorite thing to do is...he answered quickly..."I like to play on my iPhone." I was shocked! Since when did an eight year old kid need an iPhone, and since when did a phone become someones favorite thing to "do." As we kept talking I learned that his parents gave him his mom's old iPhone (he kept calling it ancient...it's the iPhone 3). It doesn't have calling or texting capabilities, he just uses it for the fun games. At first, I was nervous about him having his own phone to carry around and play games on all the time. I don't know if he could sense my concern but he quickly told me that he is not allowed to bring it to school, and that he can only play games that his parents allow him to play. 

I asked him what his very favorite game is and he told me he likes to play on "Net Smart Kidz." I was curious, so I asked him to show me the game. He and his older sister Meghan (9), told me all about how you can play fun games that teach you how to be safe on the internet. I asked them what they had learned and the explained that "Potty Mouth Pete" teaches you not to say bad things about yourself or others on the internet. "Meet me Mac," teaches you not to meet anybody in person that you met on the internet. They explained that lots of times, people pretend to be someone they're not on the internet so you can't trust anybody! I asked their little sister Emmalee (7) what she had learned from the game and she explained that you have to have good netiquette and not to answer a message someone sends you without asking your parents for help. 

When I first started talking to Caleb, I was very nervous about his ancient iPhone and the type of games he could be playing on there. After talking to him and his siblings a little bit more, I learned that there are great games for kids to play! I was happy and interested to learn about "Net Smart Kidz." I didn't know that an app like that existed! 

okay he doesn't really have much to do with this blog post, but i'm completely obsessed with him. Isn't he adorable? This weekend I made him repeat over and over...."Hailey is my favorite cousin."

These kids are NET SMART!