The overwhelming range of films, series, apps and other media presents parents with the challenge of getting an overview in order to select the right content for their children. After all, the selection should not only be age-appropriate, but also entertaining and, ideally, educational. We have put together a few suggestions on where you can find age-appropriate media for your child.
The choice of media should always be based on your child’s stage of development. Media offerings are tailored to different age groups, and it is important that you as parents pay attention to this. Age recommendations and descriptions of the content can provide helpful information. However, you know your child best, so you can use this as the best basis for determining whether the offer might suit your child.
In descriptions of media offerings – whether apps, films or games – there are sometimes different age specifications. A distinction must be made between recommendations, general terms and conditions and age ratings. Specifications and approvals usually have a legal background. For example, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) stipulates that certain apps, such as WhatsApp and TikTok may only be used from the age of 13.
The description in the app stores often contains a different age indication – namely that the app has been approved by the youth media protection authorities. The age ratings issued by self-regulatory bodies such as the FSK or USK rate media according to statutory youth protection criteria. In each case, it is examined whether media content could be dangerous for the development and health of children and adolescents. For example, through the depiction of violence or pornography. Or whether children can be exposed to contact risks through the use of a service. It is not checked whether a plot in a series and characters are understood at a certain age. This means that a Disney movie that is released from the age of “0” is by no means suitable for babies. It just doesn’t pose a risk to them. Access to media for children is to be regulated by means of age labels and technical protection measures. But this only works if you as parents also pay attention.
When it comes to selecting content, age recommendations made by (media) educational institutions, for example, will help you. We look to see whether the content corresponds to the lifeworld of the respective age group and whether it is understandable and appealing.
The media landscape for children of nursery and primary school age is huge; older children and young people often switch to adult offerings because there are fewer offerings tailored to them.
Here you can find good media offers and information:
The selection and examination of media offerings requires time and attention. However, by making conscious decisions and communicating openly, you can ensure that your child uses positive and developmentally relevant media content.
Do not rely solely on recommendations, as every child develops differently. Actively accompany your child in their media consumption right from the start in order to understand how they react to certain content.
Many families no longer rely on linear television, i.e. watching what’s on. Instead, people use their smart TVs or tablets to access streaming services – whenever they have the time and the inclination to watch TV.
The offer for children and young people is virtually unlimited and available at any time with streaming services and media libraries. Children watch movies and series partly on their own. This makes it all the more important to set the services so that they can only access child-friendly and age-appropriate content.
Keep track of how much your child watches. Binge-watching can also occur among children and young people if they are not accompanied in their media use.
Youth protection measures are intended to prevent children and young people from having experiences that are inappropriate for their age. These are, for example, content that may frighten or disturb them, or unwanted contact by strangers. Streaming services must use certain settings to ensure that their services are safe for children and young people to use.
Each streaming service has its own parental control settings, which are adjusted from time to time. Therefore, we can only reflect a current status (December 2022) of the most popular services in each case.
Regularly inform yourself about current functions and parental control settings of “your” streaming provider. Many have their own information portals for parents.
You can find the parental controls in Prime Video either in your Amazon account via the browser (Gear: Settings) or in the app under “My Area”. Here you can set up a PIN, after entering which secured content can still be viewed. In addition, purchase restrictions and playback restrictions can be activated with the parental control. Parents can create their own children’s area on Amazon with the additional paid subscription Amazon Kids+. Read more about how to set up Amazon parental controls here.
Disney+ also allows children’s profiles to be created with a child-friendly user interface. In these, only content with age ratings from FSK 0 up to and including FSK 6 is displayed. However, it is not possible to specify preferences for certain age ratings of content. A PIN can be used to prevent the creation of new profiles. Read more on the Disney+ help page.
ARD and ZDF have implemented youth protection in two ways: Films, series and programs that are not suitable for children and young people under the age of 16 or 18 can only be watched without registration from 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. (until 6 a.m.). There is also a children’s section that displays only content suitable for children. As soon as this is left, there is a hint. Those who set up an account to use the media libraries can also make additional individual settings, such as additional age ratings, setting a code, and creating a personalized media library. More about this on the help pages of ARD and ZDF.
With Netflix Kids environment, you can create one or more kids profiles for Netflix. This parental control allows you to set age ratings for a profile, block individual titles, set up a PIN, and enable or disable autoplay. With a child profile, no changes can be made to the own or a
other profile can be made. The Netflix Kids environment does not only apply to movies and series, it can also be used to restrict access Netflix games. You can get step-by-step instructions on how to set up parental controls on the corresponding Netflix help page.
Technical parental control settings are particularly useful when children know about them. Talk to your child about possible dangers and the goal of the settings. You should regularly consider whether settings can be adjusted – together with your child.
Despite a parental control, your child needs companionship in their media use. Be approachable when questions or fears arise. And watch your child when they watch videos. Choose content together in advance – then you can let your child watch an episode alone. When you set media rules together, you support the promotion of media literacy.
You can read more about the setting options and detailed instructions in the klicksafe guide.
In the digital world, children and young people are confronted with a variety of challenges. helpando is a trustworthy point of contact that provides support in difficult situations and informs children about their rights. This article introduces the digital help platform for children and young people.
helpando is a project of the KinderRechteForum (KRF). This non-profit organization has been campaigning for the realization of children’s rights for years. The helpando platform helps children and young people with any problem. The help team also intervenes when children’s rights are violated and informs children and young people about their rights in an understandable, child-friendly and empathetic way.
This uncomplicated help is available directly on the website or via WhatsApp, SMS, Facebook or Instagram Messenger. Phone calls and e-mails are also possible. The consultation is strictly confidential and free of charge.
Children and young people can also publish their case anonymously – and show others that they are not alone with their problem. The platform thus promotes the well-being and rights of children and young people.
helpando also helps to improve the situation of children and young people in a concrete and local way. Does your town need a new playground? Is there a lack of leisure facilities for young people? The school is still not barrier-free? The help platform can be used to post campaigns and draw attention to petitions. The helpando team provides support and contacts local authorities, for example.
The help platform also provides information about children’s rights and child-friendly events.
On Instagram and TikTok, helpando raises awareness of children’s rights, mental health and issues that children and young people are concerned about.
Take on a supportive and informed role and respect your child’s trust and autonomy. Help your child to seek support in difficult situations and show them digital help platforms such as helpando or similar services. Assist with making contact or seeking support if required.
Open and regular communication is crucial. Allow your child to express themselves freely and share worries, problems or concerns. This creates trust and makes it possible to react to potential challenges at an early stage.
Be aware that the online world is often a complex environment for children and young people. Respond sensitively and understandingly to your child’s challenges and problems.
Cyberbullying, harassment, extremist content – some app and social network operators can delete images and other content if it is brought to their attention. A crucial step in this direction is reporting online problems. This article introduces hotlines.
Reporting problematic behavior or content enables the responsible institutions and organizations to act quickly and protect your child. By reporting, you can help prevent similar incidents in the future, for example by removing a shocking video. In some cases, problematic online behavior can have criminal consequences. Reporting such incidents can help ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.
Some of the most common types of online problems that should be reported:
You can always report a problem directly in the app where it occurs. For example, if it violates the usage policy, threatens security, or harasses. Or when it is urgent and requires immediate action. Reporting in the app enables faster response and action from app administrators. To do this, look for an option like “Report,” “Send feedback,” or “Help” – these are often located in the app’s settings or menu.
In addition, there are official hotlines set up specifically to report problematic online behavior:
Young people can report problematic content such as hate speech or extremist comments to the contact point. The website also offers information and advice on communication risks such as cyberbullying and sexual harassment. Young scouts offer online advice via contact form and messenger on stress on the Internet, dealing with beauty images, media addiction and much more.
The FSM is an institution concerned with the protection of children and young people in the media. The FSM’s complaints office enables parents and other users to report problematic content on the Internet. The complaints office examines the reports and can take action to stop the dissemination of problematic content if necessary.
This government agency deals with the protection of minors from harmful media in Germany. Here you can report violations related to content harmful to minors. The website provides clear guidance and advice on how to report problematic content. In addition, jugendschutz.net informs about current developments in the field of youth media protection.
The Internet Complaint Center is a central point of contact for reporting illegal content on the Internet, especially in connection with child sexual abuse. It works closely with the relevant law enforcement agencies to remove such content and prosecute offenders.
Familiarize yourself with the various reporting options. Do not hesitate to take advantage of them. Educate your child about potential conflicts online. Encourage it to tell you about problems. Use parental control settings and programs.
Keep an eye on your child’s online activities and stay in the loop so you can respond to problems early.
In addition, if you feel overwhelmed or unsure about how to deal with certain online issues, you can seek counseling services. There are some counseling services for youth and parents. The number against sorrow offers, for example, a youth counseling service and a parents’ hotline for problems such as excessive demands, worries or parenting problems.
Kinder und Jugendliche wenden sich mit ihren Problemen nicht immer an ihre Eltern. Probleme in der Schule, mit Gleichaltrigen oder sich selbst, werden lieber im Freundeskreis besprochen. Sie suchen nach Antworten, Gleichgesinnten im Internet oder behalten es für sich. Doch was ist, wenn die Probleme größer werden und die Betroffenen keinen Ausweg mehr finden? Wenn Sie als Eltern mitbekommen, dass es Ihrem Kind nicht gut geht? Nicht immer ist das Internet ein guter Ratgeber bei Problemen, aber es gibt durchaus sichere und hilfreiche digitale Beratungsangebote für Jugendliche und Eltern.
Online-Beratungsangebote bieten Unterstützung bei Problemen und Sorgen wie z. B. Mobbing, Essstörungen oder Depressionen. Einige Angebote richten sich speziell an Kinder und Jugendliche. Betroffene können sich selbstständig Hilfe suchen und sich zu unterschiedlichen Themen anonym und kostenlos über eine Website oder telefonisch beraten lassen.
Viele der Beratungsangebote im Netz bieten neben einer Einzelberatung die Möglichkeit, Probleme in einer Gruppe oder einem Forum zu besprechen. Für eine Einzelfallberatung schreiben Betroffene ihre Probleme direkt an psychologisch ausgebildete Beraterinnen und Berater. In einem solchen Austausch erhalten Jugendliche sofort Hilfe und Unterstützung. Je nach Problem und Bedarf kann dieser Austausch unterschiedlich lang ausfallen. Gruppenangebote finden meist in einem Rhythmus statt, z. B. wöchentlich. Eine regelmäßige Teilnahme ist oft hilfreich, aber nicht zwingend nötig. Manchmal finden sich in solchen Chats auch Gleichgesinnte, die auch außerhalb der Sitzungen füreinander da sind. Innerhalb von Foren tauschen sich Betroffene mit Peers aus. Peers sind Gleichaltrige. Sie wurden geschult, um im Chat bei Problemen unterstützen zu können. Sie haben zudem immer die Möglichkeit, auf die Hilfe erwachsener Fachkräfte zurückzugreifen. Der Austausch in den Foren wird außerdem moderiert, um Beleidigungen, Trigger oder das Preisgeben von Daten zu vermeiden.
Die Beratungs- und Hilfsangebote unterscheiden sich darin, welche Altersgruppe angesprochen wird, welche Themen im Mittelpunkt stehen und auf welchem Weg die Beratung in Anspruch genommen werden kann. Einige Angebote richten sich auch an hilfesuchende Eltern:
Hilfsangebote im Netz können einfach und kostenlos angenommen werden. Sie sind leichter zugänglich für junge Menschen als z. B. Beratungsstellen. Die beratenden Personen sind ausgebildet und die Betroffenen bleiben anonym. Eine Kontaktaufnahme kann ein erster und richtiger Schritt sein. Vor allem bei Problemen in der Schule, zu Hause oder mit sich selbst kann es helfen, sich mit Gleichaltrigen auszutauschen oder den Rat einer objektiven Person zu erhalten. Ein Online-Beratungsangebot ersetzt aber keine Therapie! Bei Suizidgedanken oder psychischen Störungen sollte unbedingt der Rat einer weiteren therapeutischen Fachkraft gesucht werden und sich um eine fortlaufende Therapie bemüht werden. Auch bei rechtlichen oder medizinischen Fragen sollten andere Fachstellen aufgesucht werden.
Erzählen Sie Ihrem Kind, dass es diese Angebote gibt. Erklären Sie, dass diese im Vergleich zu Gruppen in offenen Foren oder auf Social Media sicherer sind, da geschultes Personal dahintersteht. Vorsicht auch vor sogenannten Psycho-Apps. Diese sind nicht immer hilfreich und können sogar gefährlich werden. Zeigen Sie Ihrem Kind, welche Angebote es bei Problemen und Sorgen bedenkenlos in Anspruch nehmen kann.
Machen Sie vor allem deutlich, dass es bei Problemen auf Ihre Hilfe zählen kann. Setzen Sie Ihr Kind nicht unter Druck und fragen Sie unvoreingenommen, wenn Sie das Gefühl haben, es hat Probleme. Ein Problem, das Ihnen klein erscheint, kann sich für Ihr Kind wesentlich schlimmer anfühlen. Sie können sich auch selbst oder gemeinsam online beraten lassen.
Star Trek, Top Gun, Paw Patrol – the streaming service Paramount+ offers a wide range of movies and series of various genres for adults and children. In this article, we will take a closer look at the service and present its main settings for children.
The streaming service of the US media group Paramount has a selection of movies and series to offer. Including blockbusters such as The Lost City or La La Land, exclusive series such as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds or Yellowstone and live sporting events such as NFL or UEFA Champions League games.
The platform is divided into a separate category for children’s programming and offers a wide selection of animated series, children’s films and live-action programs such as all seasons of Paw Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants and Spotlight. There is also original content produced specifically for children, such as Kamp Koral.
The price for the streaming service is lower than that of the competition. The catalog is still relatively thin compared to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and the like, but certainly extensive enough and continues to grow weekly.
Without parental controls, minors have unlimited access to all content on the streaming service – including content that is not suitable for their age and developmental level, or that may frighten or overwhelm them. Therefore, use the option to protect profiles with a PIN and set up children’s profiles.
Like every streaming service, Paramount+ is also incredibly appealing with the option of being able to keep watching indefinitely. In series, one episode after the next is played automatically. It is at least as difficult for children and young people as it is for adults to act on their own responsibility here. Make your child aware of this and set a good example. Additionally, you can limit the screen time in the children profiles.
It is also important to note that children are not always able to recognize the differences between fiction and reality. So take time to guide your child and talk about content your child sees on Paramount+ and help them understand what’s going on.
Paramount+ offers the possibility to protect profiles with a PIN and to set parental control settings. However, these settings are disabled by default. Parents must do this independently.
The settings are based on age ratings. Paramount does not specify which criteria are used for the releases.
The range of digital games is large. As a parent, you should pay attention to what the legal age restriction is for games . This can often be recognized by a colored USK label. It is better if you know more about your child’s favorite computer games. In order to be able to assess whether a game is suitable for your child, offers such as the Player’s Guide NRW . Parents have free access to numerous educational reviews and game descriptions of the most popular games here.
The information offered by the “Fachstelle für Jugendmedienkultur NRW” helps parents understand what their child is playing or would like to play on the computer, game console or smartphone. With the help of the filter and search function, numerous games can be displayed and found via the categories genre, the USK classification or the educational age rating. The game experience is described in detail so that you can easily understand it. The games described are tested and evaluated by children and young people for this purpose. In addition, media education experts evaluate the level of difficulty, content, and addiction potential. This results in an educational age recommendation for each game.
In addition, you will find articles and contributions about gaming and media culture on the site under the menu item “Family”. On the YouTube account of the NRW Game Advisor , there are Let’s Play videos and tutorials, for example, on youth protection settings for individual games.
The Fachstelle für Jugendmedienkultur NRW would like to support parents and guardians with its services in the area of contemporary media education. In addition, the NRW gamers’ guide serves to dispel the reservations and insecurities of many parents regarding computer and online games and to educate them about topics relating to gaming and the media. Since the USK and legal regulations are not comprehensive enough, the NRW Player’s Guide attempts to supplement them and enable children to use the net safely. As a publicly funded project, Spieleratgeber NRW is not allowed to advertise individual games, which is why the descriptions are kept largely neutral.
Even though the games are tested and evaluated by children and young people themselves, every child’s experience is different – even regardless of age. While some can process certain content well, other children may still be overwhelmed. For parents of younger children, it is recommended to play and try out the games together for the first time. It is even better if you try a game before you play it together with your child.
The website Spieleratgeber NRW offers a lot of information, but seems a bit confusing and overloaded here and there. The range of games is so huge that not every game appears in the database.
As an alternative or supplement to the services offered by Spieleratgeber NRW, the website spielbar.de also offers neutral pedagogical assessments of numerous games and articles on the topics of gaming and media.
The Corona pandemic has shown that learning at a distance and over the Internet is more difficult for some children than others. There are various reasons for this: Some students are more easily distracted at home or lack guidance from the teacher. In some families there is no quiet place to study or the necessary technical equipment is lacking. Read more in our article “Homeschooling – when the technology is missing“.
Some parents work from home, others have to go to work. Not everywhere does every child have their own room. Younger siblings can’t go to daycare and interfere with learning. Teachers are not always available, so your child will have to rely on themselves, parents or siblings…. There are many different situations where children may need to learn from home during the pandemic.
Many schools and teachers have now adapted to this, making distance learning work better. Nevertheless, there are students who are less able to concentrate at home. This doesn’t always have to do with interference from others. You may miss the walk to school in the morning and the change of location while learning. Home was previously more of a place where you could play and switch off.
Some parents are not able to provide sufficient support, for example because
Remember, you are a parent, not your child’s teacher. That’s why your son or daughter behaves differently when learning at home than at school. However, there are still ways you can support your child.
Some schools offer children the opportunity to retreat alone in an empty classroom. Check with your school to see if this is possible.
It may be easier for your child if someone else, rather than you, helps with the learning at home. Perhaps you have a retired teacher or a dedicated student in the neighborhood who can assist. The Corona School places students online to help children and teens learn.
Some states offer special tutoring during the vacations to catch up on learning. The best way to find out is to check the state’s websites and ask at your school.
The Corona pandemic has shown that learning at a distance and over the Internet is more difficult for some children than others. There are various reasons for this: Some students are more easily distracted at home or lack guidance from the teacher. In some families, there is no quiet place to study. Or the necessary technical equipment is lacking. In Part 1 of our series of articles, we have tips for you on where to find equipment so that your child can learn well even from home.
Many children and almost all young people over the age of 13 have their own smartphone. Even though the small device can do quite a lot, it is difficult to participate in video conferences with the class and solve assignments via the small screen. However, since not every family has enough laptops or PCs, sometimes there is no other way.
Besides, not every family has a fixed Internet connection and stable Wi-Fi at home. Without the Internet, homeschooling doesn’t really work at all!
Many schools have received money from the state to purchase digital equipment. This often includes tablets. They have a larger display than cell phones. Students who do not have their own computer for learning can borrow a device from their school for an extended period of time. Just ask if this is possible at your child’s school? Not everyone knows this, and tablets sometimes lie unused in schools.
If that’s not an option at your school, there’s another solution: through the Federal Employment Agency , families who don’t have enough money for multiple laptops can apply for grants specifically designed to purchase devices for distance learning during pandemic times. Read more directly from the employment agency.
Help also comes from associations that collect computer donations, prepare computers and pass them on to people who cannot afford their own equipment. Various projects make this possible: “Hey, dude!” exists in more than 20 cities and regions throughout Germany. Children and young people can get laptops and computers there. The projects re:pc:pb from Paderborn and Angestöpselt e.V. from Würzburg also hand out computers to children and young people.
In some cities and towns there are social funds where you can get assistance. It is best to ask at your city hall. Often, employees know who you can contact. Perhaps you can also talk to your neighbors and see if you can share Internet access.
Asking for help is not easy for everyone. In doing so, there are many people who are happy to help and support so that your children can learn well.
A large part of children’s and young people’s communication takes place digitally. They chat with each other, share pictures and follow each other on social media channels. This can also lead to unpleasant experiences. Above a certain level, this is digital violence, which can even be punishable by law.
Online violence can look different. Perpetrators are usually concerned with deliberately insulting, discriminating against or devaluing a person. For example, they post private pictures or write nasty comments. Such assaults happen wherever young people are online. One well-known form is cyberbullying. Violence from the analog world can also be continued digitally and thus becomes borderless. Anonymity lowers the inhibition threshold and compassion. It also makes it more difficult to identify and hold perpetrators accountable.
Digital violence is very stressful, especially psychologically, and can have severe consequences. Sufferers often suffer from anxiety, emotional stress and low self-esteem. They no longer feel safe and are afraid that the threats on the net will spread to the analog environment. Young women and girls are particularly frequent targets of digital assaults. Leaving the platform or blocking certain people may help, but the damage is often already done to the victims.
Digital violence manifests itself in very different ways and can take on different dimensions. Children and young people are particularly exposed to certain forms of online violence:
Some rules of conduct can increase your child’s safety on the Internet:
It is especially important that you talk to your child about possible risks and dangers and show interest. Regularly inquire about the people your child has digital contact with and the websites he or she visits.
Not all young people turn to their parents when they have problems, because they are afraid of punishment and lack of understanding. Talk to your child about it and make them aware of sites they can turn too, such as Juuuport. Children find it difficult to cope with the psychological stress and consequences of digital violence. So it’s important for your child to get help from adults if he or she is a victim of digital violence. This can also be accessed through counseling centers.
Online violence is not a trivial offense, but depending on the form it takes (e.g., insults, defamation, and threats), it may even be punishable by law. Therefore, you should definitely document the incidents, e.g. by taking screenshots, and go to the police with them.
Online violence should be reported to the police! In addition, you will get support at these places:
Whether Instagram, WhatsApp or YouTube – the vast majority of young people use digital media every day. Even though they teach themselves many things about it, they have questions from time to time. The page Handysektor.de offers information on online media especially for young people.
The smartphone is important for young people to communicate and act out. The range of apps and channels is constantly increasing. This can also be overwhelming and lead to questions: How can you tell if an app really delivers what it promises? How do I handle it when I get nasty comments on my selfie?
Handysektor wants to help young people with such issues and promote safe and competent media use. On the website, they can get tips and information on new apps and learn about the pros and cons as well as possible cost traps. Important and current topics of the digital everyday life of young people such as sexting, cyberbullying or data protection are explained briefly and understandably and tips on how to deal with them are given. On Handysektor ‘s YouTube channel, young people can find explanatory videos on various apps and instructions with creative ideas. In the Stories on Instagram, presenter Kim talks true to life about current trends and gives tips.
Handysektor is aimed specifically at young people. The information is understandable and is disseminated not only via the website, but also via the channels that young people primarily use, such as YouTube and Instagram. In adolescence, your child wants to get information on his or her own. At Handysektor, they will find factual and youth-friendly information – even on topics that your child may not want to discuss with friends or family members.
As a parent, you would prefer to always be the first point of contact for your child. With puberty, however, friends become more and more important and your child no longer comes to you right away with every problem. Nevertheless, be approachable and point your child to good offers like Handysektor or Juuuport. Check with your child regularly. Even with older children, it is important that he knows you have his back. Show interest in your child’s media use and encourage a self-responsible and competent approach to media. Handysektor ‘s offer can support this.
Some of the topics may not be suitable for children under ten. Especially posts on topics like cybergrooming, sexting or pornography can still be confusing for younger children. For them there are alternative offers such as Scroller.de or Kindersache.de.
Make up your own mind about what was discussed and talk about it with your child. Even though Handysektor is aimed at young people, you can also get information there. This can enhance your communication with each other and help you gain insight into your child’s digital daily life.
Children love to play. But especially when it comes to computer games, many parents are unsure how much playtime is appropriate for their child and when there is a risk of addiction.
Diving into other worlds, slipping into different roles, mastering difficult tasks, experiencing exciting stories and escaping reality for a short time – all this makes gaming tempting for children, whether on the computer or outside with friends. Games in particular offer countless opportunities to experience adventures and compete with others. What’s difficult about gaming is sometimes stopping again, because many games don’t have a clear end.
There are very few people who are actually “addicted” to computer games in the medical sense. The word comes up quickly in everyday life, even if it’s not actually appropriate. Just because your child spends a lot of time playing computer games doesn’t usually mean he or she is addicted. Nevertheless, in addition to talking to your child, firm rules will help if you feel he or she is playing too much and neglecting friends or school. Because “eccentric consumption” can also be problematic. More hints can be found here.
An addiction or dependency is a disease. It’s not a matter of “how long” or “how often,” but “why.” Observe your child to find out why they are so captivated by a game. If you’re worried your child might be addicted, you can look at some risk factors that could indicate your child might be addicted to gambling. If you observe the following in your child over an extended period of time, you should seek help:
These are just a few of the many characteristics that can be typical of a computer game addiction. However, be aware: Only experts can make a medical diagnosis!
If you suspect a computer game addiction in your child, the first thing you should do is address it openly. Show understanding and think together about what rules can make it play less. If you can no longer find access to your child, addiction counseling centers offer support and can provide concrete contacts. There are these in larger cities and also online. Research jobs in your area online or contact, for example: http://www.fv-medienabhaengigkeit.de/hilfe-finden.html or https://www.nummergegenkummer.de/. An addiction usually has other causes than computer gaming itself. You should find these out by talking to your child and with the help of professionals.
Another week like that: English vocabulary test on Tuesday and the math test on Thursday. However, many parents simply do not have the time to study with their child every day. One support could be tutoring from the net. The market is now huge.
Learning on the Internet can look very different: Learning videos often convey the learning material in an entertaining way, which means that children and young people are captivated and enjoy watching the videos. Some videos explain facts rather superficially, others deepen a certain aspect of content. With the so-called learning games, the knowledge transfer apparently moves into the background, so that the learning material is anchored playfully and quite incidentally.
Classic tutoring is also available “live” online: Teachers and students get in touch via a platform and arrange individual appointments. During the tutoring session, communication then takes place via webcam and headset, e.g. via Skype.
The flexibility of online learning is particularly convincing. This works with learning videos that can be watched as many times as you like. Tutoring with a personal contact person via the Internet is also flexible in terms of time. In theory, your child can choose individual dates each week when he or she would like to learn and which fit into the family’s daily routine. The tutoring sessions are therefore not bound to a fixed day of the week. This can increase motivation to learn because it gives your child some freedom. Moreover, online tutoring is possible from any location – even if your child is with grandparents, for example, the lessons can be realized via the Internet. Often, online tutoring is also less expensive than offline offerings.
Many tutoring portals also store your child’s learning level. This way, both your child and you as a parent can follow the learning successes. Your child’s overall motivation can be increased by learning with digital media, since they are used by adolescents every day anyway and should therefore be included in learning.
If you want to use tutoring online for child, you should inform yourself exactly about the contents, functions and costs of the different offers. The tutoring market on the net is confusing. Evaluations by other learners and comparative tests can be helpful in the selection process. Use objective evaluations, such as those from the Internet ABC.
Click through the offerings together to decide what is most appropriate for your child. Many offers trial periods of up to one month. In addition to the content, it is also crucial whether your child can cope with the operation and functions.
Basically, no online program can provide direct contact and a personal relationship with a tutor. Therefore, such an offer is not suitable for every child. You should be aware that online tutoring requires a lot of personal responsibility from your child. It needs to know exactly about its learning gaps. Your own (learning) motivation should be high enough to stay “on the ball” independently, since no “real” tutor reminds you of the practice sessions. Try to assess whether your child is old enough for this.
Especially in case of serious school problems, it is not necessarily advisable to rely only on online tutoring.
