Last week, I wrote a post regarding a seven-year-old girl who was getting started with blogging. Since then, several people have asked me how they would go about getting their children
started.
That’s a great question, and the answer is going to be lengthy, so I’m going to split it into three segments. This week I’ll focus on blogging safety for kids.
Social media isn’t only popular for keeping in touch with pals, but sharing information and perspective in nearly real time. It’s a remarkable phenomenon that is really shaping the future of communication…and quickly. I think, more and more kids will start to blog in the near future, because it’s such a powerful way to express yourself. But, as Uncle Ben told Peter Parker, “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
If your little mister is interested in blogging, it’s actually pretty easy to get into, as long as you’re willing to help. A couple of things you’ll want to consider before giving the thumbs up:
Personal Safety
Children should never divulge any personal, identifying information. Help him pick out a pen name or “handle” to use when he’s blogging. Also, while adding pictures boosts interest, he shouldn’t use any pictures of himself or the rest of your family. There are sites you can help him pick images from (like Creative Commons). Most importantly, always keep an eye on what he’s putting online. Social media is a powerful thing, parents should be involved.
Safe Content
If he’s using the blog as a personal journal, I advise closing it with a password, so only invited guests can view what he’s written. Journaling is awesome, because it’s therapeutic, hones written communication skills, and is just plain fun.
If he’s providing information, like reviews, tips and tricks on a certain topic, then his unique perspective can really help other kids his age. If his posts are a mish-mash of both journaling and informational…which is very common in the blogging world…it’s important that he’s very, very careful about what he puts on the net. Just as a high quality, informative or humorous post can go viral, so can a damaging or disrespectful one. What he puts out for public eyes to see can hang onto him for a very long time. The best rule for any social media user is, if you’d be embarrassed for your grandma to hear you say it, don’t say it at all.
If your child is very young, like little, seven-year-old, Jojo, my advice is to make the blog a family effort or a project you do together, one-on-one. That way, you know everything that is happening, all along the way, can help with any research and formatting and bond over the experience.
I’m a blogging nut, and am blessed to get paid for what I do. Besides the creative outlet, blogging is great for making connections, and even a little fun money on the side. Come back next Tuesday for part two of this series, How to Help Your Child Build a Blog: Part Two: Getting Started .
Image Source: flickr.com/photos/storozhenko/2397412529
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