Getting young kids into blogging

It would be hard to dispute the fact that blogging has taken the web by storm. Anyone that uses the internet has probably visited a blog even if they don’t know they have. Blogs come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors. The purpose of this website is to offer tips, advice, and resources for the very youngest bloggers.

As soon as a child can begin to express their own ideas they can, with the help of an adult, begin to record those thoughts in a lasting way. While some may question the idea of placing a child’s work out in a public arena, with the right support, and moderation a blog can be an incredible learning tool for a child of any age. To start things off here are a few questions and answers about children and blogging.

First things first, what is a blog?

A blog is essentially a website with dated entries listed in reverse chronological order. Most often a blog is used as a form of Journal. Some blogs are personal in nature and might be private or only accessible to a small group of individuals. Other blogs could be widely read and maintained by large corporations.

What benefit is there for a child under the age of 13 to start a blog?

For many kids the idea that real people out in the world might be interested in the things that the know, are interested in, or in the work they have created themselves is very exciting. This can be a motivating factor for young kids to want to learn more about a subject so that they can share it with a greater community than just their classroom or family.

What are some examples of how a blog can be an educational tool for a child?

The answer to this question could go on for days and I anticipate that many posts will be dedicated to this very questions. For a start here are 5 ways that a blog can be used as a learning tool:

1. Computer Skills - blogging introduces children to using a wide variety of technology. General computer use, typing, Using a camera, and navigating the internet to name just a few.
2. Writing - blogging is usually, but not always, text based. This requires forming ideas using words and sentences. Even if the child is not initially doing the typing themselves they must be able to express their ideas in a way that will get their ideas across to others.
3. Science - my Son loves science and nature. His blog is a great way for him to take the tidbits that he learns from books, school, television shows, etc and put them all together in a cohesive way.
4. Literature - Writing about a book that the child has read has always been a tool used in education to help kids show that what they read was comprehended. Putting a book report in a blog post can bring a bit of fun to the process.
5. Creativity - If a child has a flair for the imaginative a blog can be a great way to share this through written stories, scanned artwork, photography, videography etc.

What is needed for a child to start a blog?

The most basic needs for a child to start a blog are:

• The child should be interested in blogging.
• A computer with internet access.
• A blogging platform (ie WordPress, Blogger, etc) Be sure to check the terms of service to be sure that the service does not have age restrictions. I chose to host my son’s blog myself to avoid such restrictions.
• A digital camera. While not strictly required, a camera can go a long way in making the blog more fun for the child.
• The support and interaction of an adult. This can be a parent, teacher or other responsible adult to help the child when they need encouragement or technical support and also to act as a moderator throughout the blogging process.

Is it safe for a child to have a public blog?

This has always been a hot topic. How do we keep our kids safe from the bad stuff that is inevitably found on the internet? I don’t believe that the answer is to keep them totally away from it. I do believe that with guidance, moderation, and education kids can learn how to make the most of the internet while avoiding many of the pitfalls. Adult participation is key here, especially for younger children. If the big wide world of the web seems too much for a child then a private blog could be a good alternative.

This has been a very quick overview of some questions that I, myself, considered when starting my son in blogging. I hope that this website will prove to be a valuable resource for others that have young children that are eager to share what they are learning and what they think.

photo credit: Sam Pullara

The Getting young kids into blogging by Kids Blog Too!, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Related posts

• No related posts.

Tagged as: blog, blogger, blogging, blogs, children, kids