For parents of pre-school-age children

This is an important phase in your child’s life, one in which the basis for media skills and the way in which the child's media experiences are discussed in the family is created. Media education forms part of your child’s upbringing.

Television, movies, games and mobile phones

Familiarise yourself with and discuss the following

• Watch television and play console and online games together. Let your child show and teach you the things he or she knows.
• Place your television in a communal space. This ensures that your child can immediately turn to an adult if something he or she experiences or sees bothers him/her. Reserve time for discussion.
• You can restrict the availability of a certain channel by setting a password for that channel on your digital set-top box.
• Consider whether your child really needs a mobile phone.

Create rules

• Set unambiguous rules as to which programmes may be watched and which games played. Many children’s programmes and, especially, adult-oriented programmes may be too scary. Stick to the time limits you have set.
• Follow the age limits for TV programmes, movies and games. Moreover, find out for yourself whether a programme, movie or game is suitable for your child.
• Take it upon yourself to know what is being watched and played at your child’s friends’ homes. If necessary, agree on common rules with the parents of your child’s friends.

Internet

Select

• Browse the internet together with your child. Select websites that are suitable for him or her.
• Fun things to do and educational games can be found, for example, on the websites of TV programmes and familiar characters from books.
• Save the websites you find as favourites for your child.

Restrict

• Set unambiguous rules regarding which websites your child is allowed to visit and how long he or she may spend on the internet.
• Emphasise the fact that his/her own or your details should not be provided to anyone.
• The computer’s protective settings can be used for preventing access to undesired websites. These settings are not, however, a substitute for an adult presence and supervision.

Be present

• Be present and available whenever your child is using the internet.
• Place the computer in a communal space and follow what your child is doing on the computer. Listen to your child and discuss what he/she is doing on the web.
• Explain to your child that he or she can always turn to you if he/she fails to comprehend something he or she sees.

Further information online

Information for parents on children and adolescents' web use www.tietoturvakoulu.fi, www.mll.fi/viisaastiverkossa and www.nettivihje.net
Information on age limits for movies and games www.vet.fi
Age limits and transmission times of TV programmes that may be disturbing to children www.ficora.fi

Updated 17.02.2009