I’ve heard stories of young children using computers at an extremely early age, browsing the Internet, visiting sites like Webkinz, Disney and Nick Jr., but it wasn’t until I witnessed my niece sit at her grandparent's desk a few weeks back, grab the mouse, and declare, “I’m going to do some work” that it really struck me how truly different growing up has become over such an amazingly short period of time. That short period of time is what has me concerned.

The great divide

My sister and I really aren’t that far apart in age. She is 4 months removed from her 31st birthday (I soon will be 29) but our lives couldn’t be more different. She is a married mother of two whose day is centered around keeping those two miniature people alive: helping them learn, keeping them happy, talking to them, and cleaning things up only to have toys strewn around the cabin moments later. Technology advancements simply aren’t a top priority when time is limited. My sister struggles to use her new digital cable remote control. Texting is new to her. And she recently created her first email account but barely has enough time to check it. I am proud to say that she has started to explore the world of online shopping, using it to save valuable time (away from holiday crowds), but even this venture is a new and limited one.

MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Wikipedia, Twitter, RSS feeds and blogs are, essentially, foreign words to her. She has a rough idea of what some are about but others she has never actually heard of. All are destinations in a world she has never visited. I, on the other hand, am not married and don't have any kids. Another way to say it is: the only person demanding of my time is me. I have six active email accounts and to say I check most of them daily would be an understatement. I have accounts at most of the sites I listed above and many others. I work in an environment and with people that allow me to keep up on any and all new ways of the web. I may not be an early adopter on everything but I have a pretty good grasp on the pulse of the online world. At times I envy her disconnected life. But, in genera,l I consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of this developing world.

Lend a hand

A computer, and in extension the Internet, is a ubiquitous tool that all kids need to learn how to manipulate as we quantum leap into this digital age. But what happens when kids are living, playing, and socializing in a world that is foreign to their parents? Socializing - perhaps the greatest leap in the past 3-5 years online - has become a pillar of web activity. Allowing children to explore this new world while protecting them is a delicate task to balance. I know my sister is not alone, sitting in the dark; thousands of mothers and fathers who entered parenthood in the past 3-5 years, who subsequently felt the time squeeze out of their day, are now going to wake up and face an online landscape that is foreign, vast, scary and, at times, dangerous. And they need your help.

We all know that person, whether it’s a friend, a sister, a brother, or a cousin, who's the natural parent. They could give a class on changing diapers, 3 a.m. feedings, sleepless nights, and constant worry. But who should they ask when they need to know what being ‘tagged’ in a photo means: the tech savvy. The parent will be there to talk, share experiences, offer advice or just a compassionate ear when it’s your time to bring a child into the world but until then, do the parent (and their little ones) a favor and introduce them to Delicious, Digg, Technorati, Flickr, Facebook, Myspace, YouTube and the like. It may feel, at times, like you're overwhelming them with information they don't need and occupying their time that could be better utilized. But trust me, you'll be helping them more then you realize. And you'll bridge the gap.