With smartphones, tablets, laptops and games consoles now the norm, it’s no surprise to learn that almost nine out of ten (89%, to be exact) 10 to 15-year-olds in the UK go online every day. What’s perhaps less expected, though, is that more than one in four (27%) say their parents or carers don’t talk to them much – or, in fact, at all – about what they actually do in the digital world.
This leaves many children feeling like they lack a source of emotional support if something online is causing them stress. As today’s NOS #WakeUpWednesday guide discovers, maintaining a regular avenue of communication about our digital lives is just one step that trusted adults can take to help children feel more in control of how – and when – they use internet-enabled devices.
According to recent figures, a third of 5 to 7-year-olds in the UK have at least one social media profile; 69% of 8 to 11-year-olds play games online; and a whopping 97% of 12 to 15-year-olds use messaging apps or sites. Whichever way one slices it, digital devices are an increasingly integral part of how today’s young people live their lives.
There are many positive aspects to this, of course, but what’s also true is that the lure of their screens and the frequently brutal law of the online jungle can create a huge amount of additional stress for youngsters. This week’s NOS #WakeUpWednesday guide has some practical advice on how parents and carers can help their child to manage the pressures of living online.
