A recent post by ConnectSafely co-director Anne Collier says parents should fold avatars into family discussion about reputations and self-representation online. Tell us: Do you talk to your kids about their time in virtual worlds, and how much detail do you ask for? BTW, interesting stat: Between now and 2015, children aged 5-9 are the biggest growth sector in VW's. Thanks, Maureen -- Maureen Kochan ConnectSafely community manager
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ijamon1211
Posts:
2
Registered:
12/22/11
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(10 of 10)
Jan 18, 2012 3:12 AM
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Fewer than ten questions can actually help you make a good decision about Avatar-appropriateness based on your kid's specific sensitivities:
* Was your child very scared by any of the Star Wars or Harry Potter movies?
* Would your child be very scared to see an arrow pierce someone’s chest, killing him?
* Would your child be very scared by the death of a major character?
* Would your child be very scared by very intense conflict with fatal risks?
*Some people make the world SPECIAL just by being in it*
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Habbakuk
Posts:
5
From:
USA
Registered:
12/19/11
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(9 of 10)
Dec 21, 2011 6:49 PM
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Usually kids choose avatars based on their likes of replica watches. Oftentimes they change their avatars frequently and don't read too much into them. I don't think parents should try to find deeper meaning in their kid's avatar choices. It would only distance them further if they already are. For the kids, it's just entertainment, like if a parent bought rolex replica watches, it would only be for show and not something they put much value into. |
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gamefraggler
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1
Registered:
9/29/11
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(8 of 10)
Oct 5, 2011 3:08 PM
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I'm a middle-aged gamer myself and have been around for a while so I have some insights into what's what in the online gaming world. There's a big difference between "basic" online games where people hook up to a server to play strategy or FPS games and huge MMORPG worlds where kids (and older folks) interact, roleplay, and sometimes get really familiar with each other. The prime example would be World of Warcraft, as well as Guild Wars and numerous others. Most of them are subscription sites, so if your child is playing one of those games I'd try to stay informed as to what they¨re doing and who they are interacting with.
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ktspence
Posts:
1
From:
Australia
Registered:
6/21/11
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(7 of 10)
Jun 22, 2011 12:40 AM
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I agree with Chase. Safety starts at home. That's why I love the safety feature of the virtual world that my kid play. It is called Mate Safety, it lets me, the parent controls who my kid can talk to on the virtual world.
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sambru
Posts:
1
From:
NJ
Registered:
5/19/11
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(6 of 10)
May 19, 2011 9:08 AM
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May be you are right.
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dinadana
Posts:
2
From:
Canada
Registered:
3/14/11
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(5 of 10)
Mar 14, 2011 8:26 AM
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I think teh best way - strong control in what games you give your child to play and the strong control for time which they are playing!
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MistyH
Posts:
1
From:
TX
Registered:
12/18/09
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(4 of 10)
Dec 18, 2009 10:04 AM
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Parents should definitely make themselves aware of what their kids are doing in virtual worlds. I agree with Chase that most parents probably don't realize just how social virtual worlds are. They are much more than just games. Many of the things that happen on a playground can happen in a vw - making friends, arguing with friends, kids encouraging others, kids putting each other down, accomplishments, losses, disappointments, feeling left out, and on and on. Amy made a good point that those virtual "boo boos" need to be taken care of too, because they are just as real to children as any experienced in real life.
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Chase Straight
Posts:
1
From:
Dallas, TX
Registered:
12/17/09
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(3 of 10)
Dec 17, 2009 11:55 AM
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What I don't think parents understand is the social nature of the "games" their kids are playing. In some ways, a parent not paying attention to their kid's virtual world activity is like letting them go to the playground alone with no questions about what they did.
VWs have to do everything they can to protect their users but safety starts at home.
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AmyPritchard
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2
Registered:
7/10/09
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(2 of 10)
Dec 15, 2009 8:16 AM
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Of course they should! I think one of the roadblocks here is that parents don't really understand what an "avatar" is. They know their kids are online, they know they play games, but they don't realize is that there is an actual graphical representation of their child that inhabits virtual space.
That can be tough for a parent to wrap her/his head around. My child exists in another dimension, essentially. And that virtual child probably something that needs to be developed, educated, and even coddled a bit. (virtual kiss the boo boos on the virtual knees).
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Maureen
Posts:
666
Registered:
6/13/07
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(1 of 10)
Dec 8, 2009 10:27 AM
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A recent post by ConnectSafely co-director Anne Collier says parents should fold avatars into family discussion about reputations and self-representation online. Tell us: Do you talk to your kids about their time in virtual worlds, and how much detail do you ask for? BTW, interesting stat: Between now and 2015, children aged 5-9 are the biggest growth sector in VW's. Thanks, Maureen -- Maureen Kochan ConnectSafely community manager |
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