Child Aware Charter - A New Concept

Young children need to experience the power and usefulness of today’s information and communications products and services. The proper use of information and communications products and services by young children has enormous benefits for the children. Among these benefits are:

• improved communications skills


• better educational opportunities


• increased competence, and confidence, in using modern technologies


• greater understanding of the need to use current and future technologies with due care for their personal safety and security


• more awareness of the needs of others, and why misuse of these products and services can be harmful to others


• how to deal with the misuse of these products and services by others

The positive experience of using today’s communications tools is an essential part of a young child’s growth and development.

Product and service providers need to be more positive about the benefits to young children of using information and communications technologies. This also means that the suppliers must be more aware of the use of their products and services by young children. Being aware is the first step.

They must also ensure that the products and services they offer are safe and secure for use by young children. This means taking steps to ensure that as far as practical, the products and services comply strictly with industry guidelines, that staff are specially trained to deal with young children, and that they have policies and procedures in place to deal with the misuse of their products and services.

In effect, the industry should develop, and implement, a self-regulatory code of practice, based on industry guidelines. This is the ChildAware Charter.