Millions of China's tots go online
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"When I turn on the computer, he always comes up to sit beside me," Xu Qian said about her son, Zhang Zihao, who often chats with his relatives on the Internet.
A report from the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) shows that 4.2 million of China's 420 million netizens are less than 10 years old, double the 2008 figure.
Born in the 2000s, the young generation is being shaped by the unprecedented growth and development of the Internet.
"Sometimes we try to teach him Chinese characters on the Internet," Xu said. She doesn't worry too much about the effects of the Internet on her son but she never lets him spend too much time surfing as it may harm his eyesight.
4-year-old Cao Doudou, who goes to kindergarten, loves watching cartoons and playing games on the Internet. "Nobody told him how to turn the computer on and off; he learnt by himself," his mother said.
Cao's favorite game is planting and harvesting vegetables on a virtual farm. "But he also likes simple games, such as Snake and Jigsaw," his mother said.
"Born in the information age, the children are influenced by their parents who are already very familiar with Internet, so using computers as toys comes naturally," Wang Kaiyu, a researcher from the Anhui Academy of Social Sciences, said. "And in the information age they have to master these skills anyway."
"Since we cannot stop the development of technology, we should make sure children use computers constructively," Mr. Li, a teacher at Shijingshan Primary School in Beijing, said.
Wang Zhichao, an 8 year-old pupil, is learning how to use search engines to get information about the things he is interested in. "For example, if he asks me about the universe or insects, I tell him how to search for them on the Internet, but I always limit the amount of time he spends surfing," his mother said.
Zhou Sifei, also a pupil in grade three, is very familiar with the Internet. She is in charge of the class QQ group – a kind of instant messenger service. And as the culture and arts representative for her class, she has a blog where she published a video about a dance competition she took part in.
"We cannot insulate children from the Internet in the information age. If we regard the Internet as the enemy, they will go behind their parents' backs and will not be properly protected, so it's better guide them on the appropriate use of computers." Wang Kaiyu said.
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