My dad got into computers in the 1970s. Sometimes, he’d take me to work and I’d play this Star Trek game on a computer that had to print out the “screen” on paper. Sometimes, I’d destroy reams of paper chasing a Klingon around. I had no idea how much I was underfoot, but my Dad was so loving, he didn’t tell me. I got my first computer in 1984, the first ever Apple Macintosh. My brother and I loved it. We composed music, did art, wrote stories, played those rudimentary (crappy) Apple games.

My daughter is six, and my son will be three in January. She’s been on the web since before she knew she was on the web. She can navigate to PBS Kids and Nick Jr. and whatever. She can help her little brother get to Thomas the Tank Engine’s site. They play together. Oh, and she goes to Webkins World, too. It’s weird when she’s more concerned about doing chores there than in real life, but otherwise, it’s fine.

When she wants to watch YouTube, I’m right there watching it with her. There are too many wrong turns inside YouTube, too much ‘splainin to do, if she veers off.

At some point, she’ll try to steer her browser out into the larger web, and I’ll have to be ready to explain this all. I’ll have to help her understand stalking, porn, trust, media literacy, and much more. It’s almost overwhelming when you think of it. But the key word here is “almost.”

I had a great talk about this with my CEO. We both feel the same. NOT teaching your kids about the web, and NOT getting in there deep with them from the start is the wrong choice. Learn at home. Learn with intelligent parents who can share perspective, explain the importance of privacy, can explain how confidence games and trust works.

I’m thinking of launching a series of one day events on the topic: educating parents on how to talk with their kids about the web. I want to bring this out to as many people as I can. I think it’s important. I think this is education that we’re equipped to provide.

What do you think about it? Does it make sense? What’s your policy at home about kids on the web?