1. Typing Skills
Believe it or not, all of that multitasking online can actually help teens learn to type quickly. It’s amazing what you learn when you’re trying to keep up with all of your friends online.
How You Can HelpEncourage your teen to use proper finger placement and to use typing games to reinforce their learning. It’s more fun to learn while chatting with friends, but it’s wise to start out with good habits.
2. Communication
Although teens are known for using “chatspeak” in their online communication, the foundation for communicating with others has little to do with the actual language used. Chatting online with others helps young people build social skills.
How You Can HelpGently remind teens that the most appropriate mode of communication depends on the audience. While slang and chatspeak are fine for talking with friends, it is important to use full sentences and correct spelling and grammar when chatting with teachers or in professional environments. Learning to “read” the crowd and use appropriate behavior is an essential social skill.
3. Tolerance
You can’t spend time without bumping into people who differ from you due to the color of their skin, disabilities, accent or other physical attributes. As teens meet new friends on gaming websites, social networking sites and chat groups, they will learn to deal with and (hopefully) respect differences. They also learn how to cope with people who have different points of view.
How You Can HelpSupport your children in any concerns or questions they may have about different cultures and religions. Encourage them to listen to other points of view and to treat others with respect, even when they disagree. Talk about hate speech, cyberbullying and other negative ways of dealing with differences.
4. Basic Computer Skills
Viruses, limited computer space and browser crashes are all realities of time spent online. Learning to prevent and/or cope with these issues is fundamental in becoming a savvy computer user. Most of us learn the hard way to back up data, avoid clicking on mysterious links and save often. As kids explore on the computer, they are picking up valuable information about best practices. This information will go with them as they head off for college or the workforce.
How You Can HelpTalk with your teen about good computing practices such as those mentioned above. Remind them to take regular breaks, help them to set up an ergonomically friendly workspace and avoid food/beverages near the computer.
5. Self Awareness and Expression
Teens are known for exploring their identities. Decorating MySpace pages, joining affinity groups on Facebook, creating personalized avatars and designing virtual rooms give teens a chance to exert control over their environment and express their personalities.
How You Can HelpTalk to your teen about the choices they make (if they will show you!) and how other people may perceive them. Avoid being judgmental or preachy or you will shut down the lines of communication. Remind them that the information they share online will form the basis for how people view them. Once the information is out there, they can’t take it back.
6. Global World View
The growth of the Internet has had the profound impact of making the world seem like a smaller place. In just seconds you can visit a country half way around the world, view a webcam of their wildlife, learn about their language and geography and chat with their citizens.
How You Can HelpEncourage your teen to explore other parts of the world and to learn more about the people. Help them find books, movies and art related to the countries in which they are interested. Spend some time together planning your ideal vacation to this location using online tools, such as vacation planners and the local travel/tourism board.
7. Research Skills
You can find just about anything online if you know where to look. Teens who are motivated to learn new things will be forced to learn better research skills that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
How You Can HelpTalk to your teen about the types of information they will find online. Help them understand that not everything they find will be from a reliable source. Finding multiple sources, thinking critically about the origin of their sources and coming to their own conclusions will not only result in better research skills; they will also become more media savvy. You should also talk about plagiarism, fair use and giving proper credit.
8. Entrepreneurship
Creating an online business can be simple and inexpensive to do. Many teens have launched their own business ventures online in their spare time.
How You Can HelpHelp them research and understand their responsibilities around the fiscal aspect of running a business, such as keeping records and paying taxes. Encourage them to start saving their income for college or other future needs. Stay involved to help them run their businesses efficiently and ethically, but don’t hover. It’s ok for them to struggle or even fail. Mistakes are part of the learning process.
9. Time Management
Most teens have limited time to spend online. Whether it’s one hour or five, they need to learn to prioritize their online activities. If they spend their time chatting, they may run out of time to play a game or finish up their research for a homework assignment.
How You Can HelpProvide a timer for your kids to track how much time is spent online. Encourage them to complete online research/homework before chatting and playing games. Work with them to set guidelines for how much time they should spend online each day.
10. Teaching/Mentorship Experience
One phenomenon of online communities is that there is almost always someone willing to lend a hand or answer a question. Those who are in the know are usually happy to share their knowledge with others. This is can be empowering for teens who have expertise in a specific area, as they are often treated like the least knowledgeable parties at home, in school and at work.
How You Can HelpDon’t be afraid to ask questions of your teen. Ask them to show you how to use their favorite websites and online tools. Seeing themselves as an intelligent and authoritative member of society is an important part of growing up and you can help foster that sense of pride in your child.
