I have placed the family computer on the kitchen bench. This way the Internet is available for my son, at the same time as it’s easy for him to become self-sufficient online.

My son started using the Internet at the age of six. In the beginning we used to sit together by the computer, and we’d find good webpages together. I put webpages he liked under “Favourites”, and our deal is that he can visit these without us parents being there. If he wants to visit new pages I prefer him to ask his mother or I to join him when he checks them out.

I try to teach him to use the Internet to find information, and encourage inquisitiveness. We often go online together to learn about fun things we see on TV, artists he likes, hobbies etc. We look at pictures and video clips together and talk about what we see. I think it’s a good way to experience things together.

I think it’s hard to know when I should make him aware that he could stumble upon strong images and films. Maybe it’s better to do this a little too soon than a little too late. I’ve told him that if he sees something he finds uncomfortable, then he should come to me or his mother to talk about it. For now we have an agreement that he only uses the Internet when Mum or Dad is at home.

Sometimes he’s asked to become a member on net community sites with chatting functions. I have said no to this, as I think he’s too young and should wait until he’s ten or eleven.

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