Connected Kids? K–2 Children’s Use and Understanding of the Internet

In this article, we report on our own inquiry, and others’, into young children’s use of, understanding of, and skills related to the Internet. We found that the overwhelming majority of children at this age are already using the Internet, mostly for playing games, and already showing substantial gaps in Internet skill level. Most children we studied had little conceptual understanding of the Internet, were unaware of its potential dangers, and sometimes used the Internet without adult supervision. A parent questionnaire revealed that parents’ knowledge of their children’s overall Internet competence was sometimes inaccurate. Policies, standards, and pedagogy for and related to K–2 children’s Internet use should be informed by research.