Kids & Tech in the Digital Age
For this edition we are going to talk with Yuri Morais a kid participant at an Experts LATAM Summit 2020 that went with his mom Erika Ferra, Lead of the Developer community in Goiania, Brazil 🇧🇷, also we interviewed Melissa Miró, mom of Haruki and Lead of the Developer Community & Women in Tech Lima 🇵🇪
When I got to the event, suddenly I got surprised about this young kids that where so interested on the technical sessions, Hackathon and Lighting talks, so I got really curious about how we can inspire kids in our families and schools, so I decided to interview them and their parents. Let’s start!
Yuri Morais — 8 years 👦 🤖
Who is your favorite superhero?
“Yuri likes Spider-man because he can fly, catch things with his spiderweb and is a nerdy high-schooler. One day while on an excursion to a laboratory a runaway radioactive spider bites him… and his life changes in a way no one could have imagined.”
Which is your favorite technology?
“Immediately he answers me, Internet of Things, because he is amazed about how you can connect machines to Internet by using micro controllers such as Arduino, an allow us to interact with this objects.”
How do you keep learning about this technology?
“He is in coding classes and also keep learning by navigate through internet with his parents. Erika, his mom, also share with us that when kids learn how to write code they not only develop cognitive skills but also learn the problem-solving process that’s similar to a computer. This process involves using pattern recognition to present the problems in different ways while logically breaking them down into parts and creating the steps needed to solve them.”
What inspires you as a Kid to come at this event?
“Learn new things, get to know new people but mainly he is interested on keep learning more about programming and technical sessions.”
This has opened his mind that, in coding or programming, kids learn how to handle problems and anticipate any errors. Knowing how to write the correct codes can help them also to prevent an entire program from crashing, but more so, if what they are creating is not coming out well they’ll would also tend to persist. They are would also be compelled to study what’s not working, why it’s not working and what can be done to ensure that it works well.
How this have helped you to think in new ways?
“Learning to code has helped him to think in a different way.” When kids learn how to code, they will also learn other important skills such as communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
What would you like to share with other kids?
“He is really happy about get to know people from different countries in Latin America, learn from different cultures and expand his mind.”
What would you like to build with technology?
“He would like to create educative games for other kids.” Scratch makes it very simple for childrens to understand basic coding concepts and to make their creations come true by just dragging and dropping elements and connecting them with each other. It is highly visual, interactive and fun!
Haruki Alexander Tsukazan— 9 months 👦 🤖
In this interview, Melissa, Lead of the Developer Community in Lima & Women in Tech, she shared with us about how she stimulates her son Haruki to get interested with her passion about technology.
At her house she has a Google Home, and she told us that her kid is so amazed every time they talk with it, that he keeps on looking to the device when he listen the phrase “Ok Google” 🗣️ 🤖
Melissa shared with us, that In pursuit of this outcome, parents tend to sign kids up for many activities, particularly those activities they think are going to be important and valuable and that they imagine their kids will love. The reality, however, is that what resonates for a parent may or may not interest the child. So Melissa recommend us to give your kids the time and space to determine their interests and pursue their dreams.
How to Keep your Children Safe Online 🚨
The internet is a great place to learn and keep connected. Not only can all sorts of information be found there (some correct, some not so much), but it’s also a great way to stay in touch with friends and family. Sadly, internet is also a dangerous place to hang out — particularly for children without control of their parents.
Cyber stalkers, child molesters, inappropriate content, cyber bullies and more, are waiting for chance to reach out to our childrens. ⚠️ Such experience could possibly damage a child for the rest of their life. 👀
There are ways you can encourage safe internet usage, even when you’re not around:
- 1️⃣ Place computers in a common area of the house: Don’t allow kids to have a computer in their room. You’d be surprised by how much the mere presence of a parent who may or may not be looking over a child’s shoulder while they use the computer can keep a child in line safe. Make sure the computer’s screen is visible from other parts of the room, and isn’t turned toward a wall.
- 2️⃣ Spend time online with your kids: Make browsing the web a family thing, hang out with your kids and help them with their homework online, searching for information together. But, make sure to put the Google search filter on “safe.”
- 3️⃣ Set reasonable time and usage limits: Set rules about what your child can and can’t do when on the internet. Set time limits on their computer use. If they say they’re researching homework, maybe you don’t include that in the time limits. But make sure they’re actually using it for homework.
- 4️⃣ Discuss the dangers of the web with your child: Sit down and have a discussion about the dangers of the internet. Talk openly and honestly about what’s out there and the kind of stuff they want to avoid. Scare the crap out of them, if needed.
- 5️⃣ No personal information given out, and no “face-to-face” meetings: Kids may not understand how giving out personal info like their phone number or address could be harmful. They may also want to meet their new “buddy” in real life for an ice cream or a Coke. ⚠️ Say no, and never allow that. 🚫
- 6️⃣ NEVER let your child upload or download photos without your permission: Online predators will often send photos supposedly of themselves, or request photos of the child. If your child does receive photos from an online “buddy,” and they’re at all questionable, immediately contact the police or your ISP. 👮 🚔
- 7️⃣ Check with your Internet Service Provider for any parental controls, blocking and filtering tools they may offer:
Windows and Mac computers, iOS and Android phones and tablets, and gaming consoles all offer parental controls. Familiarize yourself with these controls and adjust them as needed. - 8️⃣ Randomly Check Your Child’s Browser and Chat Histories:
Young Children and Digital Technology:
Nowadays kids are growing up in a totally different world. Computers, cell phones, Web Browsers and Social Media are all embedded in their lives. In fact, even toys are currently digital and many of them have programs. Although it’s one thing to know how to use technology, it’s totally another thing to understand the science behind them. Coding helps to draw back the magic behind them so that children can understand what control them. Students of today must, therefore, consume technology and understand what controls it.
Today the digital home is a reality for most young people, and children grow up using a wide range of interconnected devices for various activities, i.e. learning and entertainment, communicating with family and friends, hobbies and pastimes. Their imagination, fantasy and creativity are stimulated, their skills in reading and information retrieval are trained and they thus benefit in all areas of life.
Finally, while most children possess basic operational and safety skills, and some have also developed advanced digital competencies, they lack the maturity to reflexively engage with online risks: also children who have had negative experiences — mainly commercial risks or exposure to inappropriate content — fail to recognise the possible dangers of their online media use.
💡 Therefore, active mediation of technologies and online safety in the family context is vital. 💻
//Disclaimer: Opinions are my own, not of the company or their programs. Each Google Developers Expert is fully responsible for their services, and is not affiliated with Google nor do they offer services on behalf of Google. Customers are fully responsible for their use of services, if any. //
