Welcome to the Information Superhighway
That's the main message of this Guide. It's designed
to welcome you, and give you a simple step-by-step introduction
to parenting in a world of computers and new forms of
media. This Guide will provide some tools and rules
for you to use with your pre-high school and high school
children at home, at school, and in the community.
The Parent Perspective
It seems overnight there's a whole new world for kids—and
for you. From computers to software to the Internet—there
are so many new things, yet little guidance for parents
trying to figure it all out. (Boldface terms
are defined in the Glossary).
That's why we decided to write this Guide. We hope to:
- Introduce parents to a new and changing media;
- Help parents use common sense parenting along with
simple, practical tips about the new technology; and
- Boost parents' confidence and jump-start their involvement
to make sure that new media will truly benefit children.
Who Is This Guide For?
This Guide is for parents who have begun to see that
computers and online services will be or already
are a part of children's lives at school, at community
centers, at home, or at the library—and who are
looking for some guidelines and advice. We have written
it with the computer novice in mind, and have provided
simple definitions and ideas for how to get involved.
But we hope that parents who have already become online
travelers will find useful tips as well. We recognize
that it is not possible to meet the needs of every parent
through one Guide. But hopefully this Guide provides
a starting point for all parents to get involved. For
more specialized information, please refer to the resources
on page 25.
What Does This Guide Cover?
Working with the National PTA and the National Urban
League, The Children's Partnership talked to dozens
of parents. We found these most frequently asked questions,
which this Guide sets out to answer:
This Guide focuses on computers and services that allow
young people to go beyond their own computer at school
or at home and link into a wider world. We focus on the
"online" world—at this time mostly represented by
the Internet and the World Wide Web—though
other aspects of the superhighway are sometimes discussed.
While we try to give parents a brief survey of current
technology, we have emphasized parenting strategies
in a world where children and young people often know
more than their parents. Although we don't focus on
CD-ROMs, video games, or computer software, we
do refer to them, and many of the parenting tips for
being online also apply to these media.
How to Use This Guide
The Guide can be used in two ways:
- You can read it straight through and find a basic
road map to the superhighway, along with road signs
to other helpful information (see the Resources
section); or
- You can jump to the area that seems most useful
to you. At the bottom of each file are links to every
section of the Guide.
Last Word
The history of media, and television especially, has
taught us some important lessons when it comes to children.
First, media has a very powerful influence on young
people. Second, without strong public attention to media
issues, children's best interests are not adequately
served. These lessons are especially important today,
as a new information society is being created. In addition
to helping parents do the best for their own children,
we hope that this Guide helps parents connect with institutions
like the National PTA and the National Urban League
as well as their local schools and community institutions
to ensure that this new generation of media is good
for all kids.
Wendy Lazarus and Laurie Lipper DIRECTORS
© 1998 The Children's Partnership. All Rights Reserved.
Click here to view Footnotes.
