7. ELECTRONIC EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN?

‘Life in Likes’: our approach to protecting today’s children from the social media revolution.

In this week’s national news, it was widely stated that educationists are clutching at straws to try to contrive ways of educating young children to use electronics and the Internet safely and protect them from the anxieties that develop all-to-often in this age of ‘chasing likes’ and online social validation. It also declared that mental illness is rife!

What a huge shame it is for these poor children that their social groups are dominated by this modern-day device, to the point that they feel unable to disconnect because it will be seen as socially damaging! Is it, therefore, of vital importance that these young children, who have already embarked on their Internet and social media journey, are safeguarded against the associated dangers and negative side-effects that are so widely published in the press. Schools, policy makers, and parents, will work valiantly to develop programmes that educate children in ways to protect themselves against this ever-increasing risk, with the wellbeing of the children at the centre.

I wish to offer a debt of gratitude to the parents of my school who have unquestionably and unanimously upheld my ‘no Cyber for young children’ requests which has been a vital part of building our vibrant community of like-minded individuals who stand out as being forward-thinking. Together, we have created an environment where our children can breathe, play, enjoy their education, develop socially, academically and physically in their child-centred and Cyber-free social life until such time as they are both wise enough and old enough to deal with the ups and the downs of the electronic world. My only regret is that such an environment can’t simply be rolled out to children of the wider world.