Fully Enjoy the Internet: a mother’s experience
Fully Enjoy the Internet: a mother’s experience
The Appio Claudio Parents Association (AGAC), which brings together parents and teachers in southeastern Rome since 2017, participated in the Fully Enjoy the Internet programme for parents (March-May 2023). The meetings focused on a responsible use of the Internet and technology. Onelia Onorati interviewed the President of the Association, Vanna De Candia.
How did the project of a neighbourhood parents association start? With what spirit do you organise your initiatives?
The association was officially started in 2017 in the Appio Claudio area thanks to five parents who decided to create a support community for the school and to promote its potential in the local community. Over the years, we have managed to create a network between the school, families, and the local community, even reaching out to other associations that work with children.
Our first challenge was organized by a teacher and a parent who decided to promote a series of meetings with pedagogues in 2016 to provide a wide felt need to address and reflect on the world of children. Three evening sessions were organised at the Church of San Policarpo, in our neighbourhood, which also included a low-cost babysitting service for parents. The meetings were very intense, and a lot of people participated. This experience gave rise to the network idea that later formed our association.
Over the years, we have launched a school for parents, meetings on cyberbullying, a course on how to prevent choking, and many get togethers in the courtyard of our school, IC Parco degli Acquedotti. Together with the local community, we have also organized a book-crossing, as well as meetings on sexuality with specialized psychologists. After the Covid lockdown, we organised various open-air events, including yoga, juggling, and popular arts courses. Today, many projects address sustainable mobility, including group cycle rides with children and adults. It must be said that Covid changed the equilibria of our association, and we are still trying to reorganize and get together.
What is your story? What drove you to participate in an association like AGAC?
I have three children, all of different ages. Two are adolescent, while a little girl is still in primary school. We live nearby the school, so we can move by bike. Moreover, I felt the need to create a support network for families and a school for parents to help raise awareness. Eventually, it became a pleasure to share time together at our meetings.
What drove you to participate in a project like the Fondazione Mondo Digitale’s “Fully Enjoy the Internet”?
The firm belief that parents must be fully aware of on-line risks and explain this to their children. Just think about all the dangers related to the transmission of personal data and how important it is to raise our children’s awareness of this.
Why do you believe it is so important to train parents?
There are various reasons, including the danger of overlooking some important phases of their children’s psychomotor development. I believe children may lose manual abilities due to an excessive use of digital devices. This really scares me, especially if too intense and by young children in primary and secondary school. Technology is part of our lives, and we need to learn how to use it, but we can’t let it take us over! And then there all the other dangers posed by the Internet, and we must be aware of those, too.
Speaking with parents in the association and other adults, do you think there is an urgent need to address these topics through courses?
Yes, we definitely need courses. Many people are not even aware of their disinformation in this matter. The dangers are not clear at all, and children’s devices are not sufficiently monitored. I am happy that a growing number of parents have decided not to provide smartphones to children in junior high school. However, it’s the exception to the rule.
During the “Fully Enjoy the Internet” course you learned about issues such as fake news and fraud, cyberbullying and on-line hate, listening and speaking with your children, personal data and privacy. What module interested you the most? Which did you feel was most important for the everyday life of your children?
I was really struck by our first meeting with Nicoletta Vulpetti. We spoke about dialogue between parents and children. I appreciated her concrete attitude and the example from her personal life in this matter. Managing time on the Internet, photos and videos shared on-line, WhatsApp chats … all issues that we face daily.
What part of this course, if any, did you concretely put to use with your children?
I am very worried about the use of the Internet. In fact, my children use their smartphones only to make phone calls. The Fully Enjoy the Internet course provided me with the tools I needed to help my children – both the adolescents and the pre-adolescents – exploit technology without becoming slaves to it and being exposed to dangers. You need to understand what is happening to allow your children to use social media.
In terms of your use of the Internet as an adult, what concept interested you the most?
I am much more careful about my personal data. And I reflect every time that I have to provide information and whether it’s worth it.
