ELC UPDATES AND REMINDERS - 28.5.24
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NOTICE FROM HEAD OF PRIMARY
In this week's bulletin I would like to talk about computer game age restrictions and I do this through the lens of trying to help our community navigate the difficulties of raising children in a technological world.
Like nearly all countries, Australia has age restrictions on many everyday things. As 15 year old adolescents, I am sure all parents had the coordination to change the gears and drive their parent’s car, but the government quite rightly decreed that we did not have the cognitive capacity or maturity to understand the responsibility of driving a vehicle until we were older. As a result, we were still pedalling around on bicycles at that age.
The government and advisory groups have advice for parents about what age online games and social media apps are deemed suitable for children. This advice is from experts in this field who have an excellent understanding of what they are doing. The guidelines are created with the best interests of the children first and foremost in their minds. Children at 8, 9 and 10 years of age simply do not have the same level of cognitive capacity as 13 and 14 year olds. As a result, different games have different age ratings.
Over the years I have seen an increasing trend in children adopting online games that are well beyond their years. Fortnite, for example, has an age guide of a minimum of 13. While I am yet to meet a parent with senior school age children who happily claim they wish they gave their children Fortnite at a younger age, I now see ones that have given it three or fours years too early and some are dealing with negative consequences of this decision. These issues highlight the impact of adopting online games many years earlier than the government recommends, but in many cases the impact is there despite not showing outward signs of it.
Today’s online games are designed to give regular dopamine hits to reward the players for success in the game. Combined with the fast pace of play, incredible graphics and rewards for continuous play, these games are far more addictive than their predecessors of the early 2000s. I must stress that even as teenagers, our children’s brains are still developing, and at primary school the student’s brains have an enormous amount of development still to go.
Most parents will know a story about the ‘loot boxes’ attached to many online games. The monetisation of online games is the purpose for their existence after all. Loot boxes enable players to purchase an array of benefits ranging from cosmetic skins to wear, to more time in the game. Some purchases give better weaponry or transport and give the player an advantage over their peers. Some of these loot box rewards are free but nearly all are available to purchase with real money. Parent money. V-bucks as gifts at birthday parties are a common example of how this has become the normal practice for many people.
Another part of online gaming is the community that develops through the chat functions. This can be text or speech and is largely unregulated. Again, I don’t know if I have ever met a parent that would let their children go sit and chat at a table unsupervised with a stranger who could potentially be older than their parents. This is what happens online and it is not safe.
I do recognise the pressure that parents are put under by their children. When there are some children accessing these games, others do feel left out and understandably put immense pressure on their parents to also give them access to games before they are old enough. Standing firm to this pressure will benefit your child, even though they might not see that benefit for years to come. Interestingly, conversations I have had with children in their late teens indicate they do appreciate the challenge for parents in this area and respect those who stood up to the demands from their children. These things are also easier to parent as a group, and I am certain students will say they are the only child who does not have a particular game, the reality is there are many parents who are following the guidelines correctly.
Online games can be fun, they are growing in sophistication and realistically are here to stay. Each game has a recommended age and there are many organisations dedicated to supporting parents with the information needed to make good decisions for their children. Excellent places to start are Common Sense Media: https://www.commonsensemedia.org and also the Australian Government eSafety Commissioner: https://www.esafety.gov.au.
Mark Douglas, Head of Primary School
NOTICE FROM DEPUTY HEAD OF PRIMARY – EARLY LEARNING
I concur with Mr Douglas’s article. It is a constant challenge for all of us to stay abreast of the content that children are exposed to when using technology. Education about how to do this in schools and at home continues to evolve, trying to keep up with the rapid developments in digital technology, media and artificial intelligence. Together, we can support each other to ensure that our St Mark’s children are not at risk of exposure to adult concepts, violence, and bad language by ensuring that they are not viewing content or playing games rated above their age. I encourage ELC parents and carers to be vigilant in supervising children on digital devices and to be aware of the official rating of any digital content that your child is exposed to. Do not be influenced by what other people do or what your children say their friends are allowed to do. You can’t assume that other parents, carers, or relatives know about E safety but you can be sure that children will be very quickly enticed and then form habits that are hard to break.
I have attached an additional link that you may find helpful at home, in navigating this challenge.
Linda Sweet, Deputy Head of Primary – Early Learning
PRE-PRIMARY EXCURSION REMINDER – Wednesday 29 May
As part of our HASS project on Communities the children will walk to the Whitfords Library and Whitfords shopping centre to find out more about the people who work in our Community. The children will enjoy a babycino at one of the local coffee shops in the centre. All students will wear their full school tracksuit for this excursion. Should the weather be wet they will require a suitable rainjacket.
TERM 2 – ELC EVENT REMINDERS
WEEK 8
PP INCURSION – Fire Engine visit – Thursday 6 June
More information via Consent2Go soon
WEEK 9
- KINDY HEALTH CHECKS
– this week and next
(Government Community Nurse in the ELC)
- Y1 INCURSION – Play in the Past – Tuesday 11 June
(students invited to wear olden day clothes to school)
More information via Consent2Go soon
WEEK 10
- K-12 EMERGENCY DRILL – Monday 17 June
- KINDY HEALTH CHECKS
– continue this week
(Government Community Nurse in the ELC)
- PP-Y12 SEMESTER 1 REPORTS – released on SEQTA this week
(Semester 1 Reports are not prepared for Kindergarten. They will only receive Reports at the end of the year.)
- PP & Y1 HOUSE ACTIVITY DAY – Friday 21 June
Pre-Primary and Year 1 students will participate in various fun activities in their House groups..
They will need to wear their House shirts on this day.
- LAST DAY OF TERM 2 – Friday 21 June
Students will finish at the normal time on this day for a three-week mid-year break.
TERM 3
- FIRST DAY OF TERM 3 – Tuesday 16 July
Kindy Starfish will attend on Tuesday and Wednesday of Week 1
Kindy Turtles will attend on Thursday and Friday of Week 1
