Opinion
iPad should be more family friendly
Michelle Maltais Although our family encourages sharing, Apple really doesn't when it comes to its devices.
5-year-old spends $2500 on apps in 10 minutes
Camille Bautista Five-year-old Danny Kitchen accidentally racked up more than $2500 in add-on purchases on the family iPad.
How to stop children making in-app purchases
Jenneth Orantia Simple account safeguards and a sound method of letting older children spend their pocket money can stop little ones purchasing big on mobile devices - whether inadvertently or deliberately.
Can kids develop internet-use disorder?
SARAH MACDONALD Pathologising technology is 'clearly stupid', but how much is too much?
Oscar movies re-enacted by adorable kids
Staff writers Watch Argo and all the other Oscar nominated films re-enacted by adorable and hilarious children.
5 tips for keeping your kids safe online
ANNA SPARGO-RYAN Digital freedom comes responsibility, so let's take a look at the ways you can work with your child to keep them safe online and offline.
Sneak peek at next-gen Xbox and PlayStation
Alex Kidman Sony and Microsoft are preparing their next generation of consoles, with plenty of online speculation as to what you'll be doing with the next generation of games.
Childish behaviour as parents worsen cyber-bullying
DEBORAH GOUGH Parents who buy into their children's online disputes can continue the tirade long after their children have made up, warn bullying experts.
The future is an appy prospect
You don't need to be a grown-up to have the drive to innovate. Jenneth Orantia talks to three young app creators making digital waves.
Toss-up: notebooks for students
Adam Turner As students head back to school, it's time to look for a notebook that won't break your back or your budget.
Parents face laptop slug as funds run dry
Jessica Wright The federal government's scheme providing high school students with laptop computers is on the brink of collapse, leaving parents with hefty bills and educators with a chaotic start to the school year.
Live-action Toy Story remake
The original Toy Story movie has been brought to life in this fan-made tribute film that uses live-action and stop-motion animation to recreate the family favourite.
Mother gives son an iPhone for Christmas ... with a catch
Blogger Janell Burley Hofmann found fame in the US when she gave a her son Gregory an iPhone for Christmas. It came with a few conditions ... 18 to be precise.
Children trapped by free apps
ASHER MOSES Hundreds of the most popular children's smartphone and tablet apps are collecting or sharing personal information - including geolocation, phone numbers and device identification - with third parties, without notifying parents or asking for permission.
Give a gadget that will get the kids outdoors
ANNA SPARGO-RYAN If you're breaking out in hives at the thought of spending summer trapped indoors, we have some great technology suggestions that will keep your kids entertained AND get them out of the house.
Children think penalties for sexting too harsh
Young people think the penalties for sexting and cyber bullying are too harsh, a survey has found.
5 things you simply must remember this Christmas
ANNA SPARGO-RYAN When you're planning your Christmas shenanigans this year please, for the love of the light in your child's eyes, take this list with you.
Anna Spargo-Ryan
Is this the ‘iPad for kids’?
ANNA SPARGO-RYAN Apple’s long-awaited announcement of the iPad Mini is here but is this year’s Christmas ‘must have’ really a good choice for our Gen Zs?
Social media for kids
ANNA SPARGO-RYAN It’s true that the online world can be a dangerous one for kids, but banning social media all together is not the only option.
When are kids old enough for a mobile phone?
Sam Grobart Unlike R-rated movies or a learner's permit, there are no clear rules that dictate when a child can or should have a phone.
Kids are blogging to be heard
ANNA SPARGO-RYAN It seems that the grown-ups are not the only ones who have caught the blogging bug with children as young as seven joining the blogosphere.
Nine-year-old blogger wins food fight with council
A nine-year-old blogger has won a food fight with authorities in her Scottish town, after an online outcry prompted officials to lift a ban on posting photos of her school lunches.
Sex predators posing as online gamers, police warn
Child sex offenders are posing as children on social networking and gaming sites to lure in their victims, Queensland police have warned after making seven arrests involving child porn.
The best of the eBook readers
ANNA SPARGO-RYAN After losing her daughter one too many times under an ever increasing pile of books Anna Spargo-Ryan decided it was time to invest in an eBook reader but with so many options which was the best? Here is what she found out.
Facebook setting sights on pre-teens
Facebook testing ways to allow under 13s on the site without them needing to lie.
iPad blurring the future for kids?
Staff writers with Agencies Are you constantly battling your child for your share of time on the family iPad? There are fears that all this time spent on the in-demand device and not enough outside exercising could leave children nearsighted.
Hope for children addicted to gaming
Adele Horin Children addicted to video games are more likely to suffer depression, anxiety and social phobias.
Child's play on the little screens
Warren Buckleitner Here are a dozen apps for all those well-behaved kids who got an iPad or iPod Touch for the holidays.
Mother feels call of duty when son has a video game in his sights
Sarah Napthali I confess, I was one of the zillions of well-intentioned mothers who would never allow her sons to wield toy guns. Yet faced with their passion for gun play and research suggesting this was normal, I eventually surrendered. Soon enough, the sounds of ''POW POW'' began to feel normal, innocent even.
Outdoor adventure activities
KATIE CARLIN The weather is warming up and it’s time to get the kids outdoors into the sunshine for some good old fashioned fun. We have put together a list of exciting, messy and adventurous games and activities that will have your kids forgetting all about their video games.
One in three children run into disturbing content online
Alexandra Smith NILOOFAR VEISZADEH is only eight but she uses the internet every day, accessing a range of sites from her own laptop.
Top 10 iPad apps for kids
NIck Broughall Whether it’s an educational app or a digital book, an interactive game or a streaming TV service, there are a huge number of apps available for kids to experience on the App Store.
Top ten iPhone apps for kids
Nick Broughall Something about the large, 3.5-inch screen and simple interactive controls of the iPhone makes it a magnet for toddlers’ sticky fingers. As parents all around the world have discovered, Apple’s smartphone isn’t just a useful tool for adults, but a handy toy for kids of all ages.
Top 10 gadgets for kids
Nick Broughall Gadgets are not just for adults these days. From an early age, kids are getting more accustomed to the idea of using high tech (and low tech) devices.
Simple settings tweaks to protect your kids online
Nick Broughall These days kids need computers but they also need to have some restrictions imposed, both for discipline and for their own safety.
Modern technology more than child's play
Joanne Orlando Have you heard about the latest trend in toilet training young children? Letting them use the iPad while they're on the potty.
Young kids easy prey on Facebook
Andrew Stevenson Thousands of primary school children are putting themselves at risk from sexual predators by using social networking sites from as young as eight years old.
Screen but not heard: kids tap into digital age
Mark Russell With the rise of online gadgetry, many children are becoming switched on to screens before they can walk.
Video games make kids eat more: study
An hour spent playing video games may make teenage boys eat more over the rest of the day, a small study suggests.
Protecting your kids online
JUSTINE DAVIES New study shows that many parents are unaware of how to protect their kids on social networks.
Childhood, unplugged
Heidi Davoren What does a child do for fun in 2011 when there is no computer or television screen assisting their neurological development?
Why games can be so dangerous for kids
John Birmingham Here's a hard truth from someone who loves his gaming. I'm coming to the conclusion that games can be very, very bad for kids. Not that they have to be bad for kids. Just that they can be.
App designers put accent on Strine
Jennifer Rajca Zed or zee? The way children pronounce the last letter of the alphabet speaks volumes about the cultural influence of Uncle Sam.
Taronga Zoo launches iPhone app
AMBER ROBINSON Taronga Zoo has launched a free iPhone app targeted at 5-12 yr olds. The first of its kind, it lets zoo visitors create a digital scrapbook of their visit.
Why games can be so dangerous for kids
I wanted to write about Digital Rights Management–the sneaky little software tricks that stop you downloading a copy of Falafel from Amazon and immediately making about 1000 copies to send to your friends, among other things ...
C'mon get Appy: best iTunes Apps for kids
AMBER ROBINSON Apps. It’s a wonder how parents ever made it through a long wait at the doctor’s surgery without them! Here’s a selection of our highest-rated apps for kids.
Internet and your kids: navigating the boundaries
Kylie Orr In a household where computers almost have their own seat at the dining table, our children are going to be exposed to technology daily. This can be a great gift in a world of wires but it can also become a source of immense anxiety for us parents.
Online bullying: tips for younger kids
Schools A to Z Experts suggest cyber safety discussions should start when children are six or seven years old. Here are some tips to help your children avoid online bullying.
Kids doing well on the internet
Nick Galvin Parents worry about how children use the internet, but it seems kids are wiser than you might think, writes Nick Galvin.
The Net is not the enemy
Gordon Farrer If parents learn about their children's online world, they can help deal with problems.
How parents can help keep their children safe
Jill Stark Victoria's chief child psychiatrist has urged parents to remove computers from children's bedrooms, following the suicides of four Geelong teenagers, one of which had links to cyber bullying.
Plenty to chew over on kids TV standards
Neil Shoebridge The second anniversary of the start of the Australian Communications and Media Authority's review of children's television standards has come and gone, with no clear sign of when the new rules will be released.
