themselves, no matter how much they try, they
inevitably grow up to
be just like their parents.
If you allow your child
to spend time with a
video game, or social
media or anything else
on the Internet and
walk away, you have to
face the fact that someone else, anyone else,
is teaching your child
how to behave online,
and that behavior can
be totally separate from
their behavior offline. For example, when communicating in person, a child may continue to
say “please” and “thank you,” but once he is
back on the keyboard, the swear words fly and
he starts tearing other people down.
computers and learning the Internet can
be hugely beneficial as technology keeps
evolving at an exponential rate, but it has
to be done safely.
BE INVOLVED
once those children become comfortable and
relaxed, they
often turn
into the bullies that they
once feared
and hated.
They begin to
bully the other children
and even say
some truly
hurtful things
to people
who have
been nothing
but kind to them.
Above all else, just be there with your child
to explain what is acceptable and what
is not. Be there to tell your child that the
things that a bully says aren’t true and that
it is okay to find a better place to play.
“If you allow your child to
spend time with a video game,
or social media or anything
else on the Internet and walk
away, you have to face the
fact that someone else, anyone else, is teaching your child
how to behave online.”
This is known as “learned behaviors” and is
often associated with children who grow up in
an abusive home. Even though those children
hate it and promise to never be abusive parents
You need to be there. All of the technology in
the world won’t matter unless you are by your
child’s side. You may have done a terrific job of
raising your child and instilling proper values
and morals, but once your child signs on to the
Internet, if it’s not you showing them how to
behave there, it will be someone else.
If you are the type of person that is inclined
to say “I don’t get this stuff” or “I’ll never understand how that works,” then for the sake of
your child, please try anyway. Take the time, do
the research and make the effort. No one else
will do that for you, and there is no program
that will make the Internet safe either. Don’t
listen to the articles or advertisements that tell
you that a few simple steps will make everything better because it won’t. Your presence and
involvement is the best course of action.
Keeping your children away from the Internet is
also not a good alternative as this will only hinder their ability to be prepared for the future.
Every moment that can be put towards learning
42
ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
FIND A SAFE PLACE
The Internet doesn’t have to be a scary
place, not for you and not for your child
either. Seek out safe places to visit via
word of mouth, whether it is from autism
support groups, your child’s therapists or
other parents. Ask them if they know of
any good places to get started online. Find
closed groups, “whitelisted” video games
and forums where only approved people
can gain access. Leave any place that has
bad language or allows questionable behaviors. No matter how unlikely it may
seem, there are always alternative, and better, places to go.
You don’t have the luxury of being at your
child’s side all day at school or on the bus
or at the playground, but you can be present at the computer. Don’t take that for
granted.
Autcraft, which was created by Stuart Duncan, is
a whitelisted Minecraft server for children (and
adults) who have autism and their families. What
this means is that if you or a family member has
autism and you own the computer version of
Minecraft, you can register and apply to be put
on the whitelist and play with other people just
like you. A few features of Autcraft:
Bullying, killing, stealing, griefing, etc. is not
tolerated.
Swearing is not tolerated.
An in-game ticket/support system is in effect.
If you need an admin to do something, stand
where you need the help and use /modreq
.
Players’ builds are protected using World
Guard. Ask an admin for protection.
All kills, blocks placed, blocks broken, items
dropped, picked up and more are tracked so
that administrators can see exactly what
happens anywhere.
Stuart Duncan is the father of two boys,
one with autism and one without. Stuart
himself has Asperger’s Syndrome and has
been writing blogs and articles for various autism charities since early 2010. He is the founder
of Autcraft, the first Minecraft server for children with
autism and their families.
A few mini-games such as hide and seek, mob
arena, and spleef are included.
Community Wither fights and other events are
promoted.
For more information or to apply to be put on the whitelist,
visit the Autcraft website. (NOTE: Due to recent increased
interest, wait time for assessment of applications is approximately two week s.)
ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
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