In a world with an abundance of screens and electronic devices, parents are increasingly urging their children to read more and stare at screens less!
The previous generation was told they would get “square eyes” from watching too much television – but it was far easier to switch off the family TV and hide the remote control than it is to remove every phone, tablet, and computer screen out of sight – especially when we rely on these devices for communication, school work and business on a daily basis.
In an effort to get more kids reading, devices such as the Kindle, Nook, Kobo and Likebook Mars E-Reader do at least offer us the option to explore the wide world of literature.
This International Children’s Book Day, whether your child is holding a tablet or a physical book, it’s time to explore the world of children’s literature. They say that ‘Art reflects Life’ – living as we are in the digital world, let’s see what we can learn from these classic children’s books about how to stay cyber safe. Happy Reading!
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
This much-loved bear and his friends have delighted children and adults alike since his inception in 1922. Piglet notably takes his security extremely seriously, having adopted the broken ‘Trespassers Will’ sign and making it his own.
What do we learn? Be aware of your surroundings! And if you don’t know who is at the door – or on the other end of an anonymous chat message – don’t let them in!
Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
The protagonist of this story is actually a very naughty bunny! Crossing Mr. MacGregor’s security breaches and stealing vegetables from his garden is pretty unacceptable. He ends up getting in trouble with his mother and having a stomach ache, which just goes to show – stealing (or for our purposes, ‘hacking’), will catch up with you in the end!
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Alice’s fall down a rabbit hole into a whimsical world of fantasy is somewhat similar to the state we enter after staring at a screen too long, or scrolling through social media until we reach a vegetative state. Too much screen time can affect your dreams and sleep patterns – use a parental control app (we recommend FamilyKeeper) and curb the amount of screen time your kids are having.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Victorian England’s detective would be a wonderful cybersecurity expert in 2022 – with an incredible eye for remembering intricate details, Sherlock would be great at sifting through data and finding cyber threats such as Trojans! We may just have to rely on a great antivirus instead.
The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
The original story by Hans Christian Andersen is much darker than the Disney classic. What can we learn? Be careful who you make deals with, especially through dodgy online sites and pop-ups – if it’s too good to be true, it usually is!
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Teens in particular pin too much of their confidence on their social media accounts, and online gratification. Roald Dahl’s children’s book teaches the true meaning of being happy – and life lessons surrounding greed and morality.
Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
Peter Pan loses control over his shadow and it gets him into trouble – be careful how much of yourself and your digital footprint you let loose over the internet. And piracy is never a good idea, as can be seen from Captain Hook’s unfortunate end – so be careful not to download pirated movies or cracked games!
If you are looking for inspiration regarding limiting screen time, setting family schedules, and removing screens from the bedtime ritual, the FamilyKeeper parental control app is just what you’ve been looking for. Thousands of families around the world are using FamilyKeeper to help their children make time for other activities, and enjoy time away from screens.
For more information, see www.familykeeper.reasonlabs.com.
