Media skills - keeping the family climate relaxed
What role do digital media play in your family?
Digital media are also part of our everyday lives. But there are a few rules for using it. We have a laptop in the household that we share. I occasionally take my laptop home from work to do some research or answer emails. Fabian and I have a smartphone, but Nina doesn't yet. We leave our smartphones at the central charging station in the evening. Of course, I have to set a good example. Because of my job, I've set up a Facebook profile so that I know how this platform works. Nina would now like to have an Instagram profile. But we're still looking into it together.
What do you think are the biggest challenges for parents in dealing with their children's media consumption?
The older children get, the more difficult it becomes for parents to control them. Parents then often try to protect their children by imposing prohibitions. However, this is more likely to lead to things going wrong at home. And if something is forbidden, it often becomes even more appealing and is perhaps accessible to friends at home. «Everyone else is allowed to do it» - they hear from their children. Parents are often overwhelmed when they don't know where to set boundaries - and how.
You organised a media course with Swisscom. What motivated you to do this?
I came across the Swisscom programme as part of a professional development course on social and digital media. Together with a Swisscom employee, I developed a media course for the parents of pupils at the Wädenswil upper school. I think it's important to reach as many parents as possible. Time and again I see that the dangers of the Internet are not taken seriously. The more parents know about the topic, the better they can support their children.
What topics did you cover in the course?
It was agreed with the speaker that he would respond to individual questions from the course participants. For example, he used a Facebook profile to show which chat enquiries a 15-year-old girl can be confronted with. It was also important for us to inform the parents about legal aspects.
Have you personally benefited from the media course?
The course gave me valuable ideas that I can use in everyday family life and in school social work. It was also important for me to exchange ideas with other parents. I believe that all parents and teachers can benefit from a media course.
Has your everyday family life changed since then?
The course has encouraged me to talk more about digital media with my children again. I told them about the course and described the examples we discussed. It's important to me that my children use media consciously and sensibly. But of course we also watch YouTube films from time to time just for fun - funny animal videos or a music clip, for example.
What would you recommend to parents who are undecided about how to deal with the issue?
In my opinion, all parents and teachers should familiarise themselves with this topic so that they can guide their children competently. A media course from Swisscom is very suitable for this. It provides lots of practical tips on how to deal with digital media in everyday family life and also answers questions on sensitive topics. Attending such a course is also useful for parents who are already familiar with the media.
«I SEE A SWITZERLAND IN WHICH CURIOSITY ON THE NET IS HARMLESS»
from the current Swisscom campaign
We want you to feel safe and at home in the digital world.
Our media courses teach you how to use digital media responsibly.
responsible use of digital media. Find out more at www.swisscom.ch/medienkurse.
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