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A national survey of more than 1 700 American households reveals that both children and parents view Internet use as a "positive new force in children's lives." The study results were released March 28 in a Washington news conference by the co-sponsors, the National School Boards Foundation, the Children's Television Workshop and the Microsoft Corporation.

The National School Boards Foundation says this study is the first to provide credible information about family Internet use. habits and views. Following is the text of the study's executive summary:

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specializing in technology, to develop an unprecedented national survey of parents and children. The Dieringer Research Group conducted the survey and tabulated the data. With generous support from the Children s Television Workshop and Microsoft Corporation. we surveyed a signifi-cantlv large random sample of 1.735 households nationwide to learn about children's Internet usage In telephone interviews.

we asked parents of children aged two to 17 a number of questions about the role the Internet plays In their children's lives. We also asked children themselves. aged nine to 17. from the same households, for a reality check on the role of the Internet their own lives.

Key Findings: The

Benefits of the Internet

The bottom line: Most parents and children alike seem to view the Internet as a positive new force in children s lives. Despite recent negative headline Isolation. violence, pornography, predators and commercialism, parents and

children generally are upbeat and favorable about their own Internet experiences. Parents, in fact, are more positive on this Issue than children. They believe the Internet is a powerful tool for learning and communicating within families. And. as parents' answers suggest. the Internet can be an equally powerful tool for schools that want to increase public engagement and family Involvement-and to help bridge the digital divide between students who have computers and Internet access at home and those who do not.

In almost half (49 per cent) of households surveyed, at least one child uses the Internet. By the time they are teenagers, nearly three out of four children are online. Teenagers who use the Internet are more likely to log on al school. Younger children who are online are more likely to log on at home than at school

Parents and children told us: 1. The main reason families buy computers and connect their children to the Internet at home is for education. The most

common reason parents cite for buying home computers is children's education. Education is also the single-most common motivation parents cite for their children to use the Internet form home. Moreover, education-related use of the Internet goes beyond learning activities for required schoolwork. Children also go online for learning activities that are not connected directly with school. Many parents whose young children use the Internet at school believe the Internet has Improved their child's attitude toward school.

2. The Internet does not disrupt children's everyday habits and typical, healthy activities. In fact, once they start using the Internet, many children spend less time watching television; increased time reading newspapers. magazines and books; increased time playing outdoors: and Increased time doing arts and crafts. The findings present a picture of American children whose involvement in a variety of activities continues and even Increases-even as their Internet usage Is rising.

3. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the Internet does not appear to isolate children from their families, peers or communities. Instead, the Internet is a powerful communication tool that connects children (and parents) to others-and could bolster the home-school connection. Children (and parents) use e-mail, chat rooms and instant messaging, for example, to connect with other people, not avoid them. Parents. Including low-income parents, would like to be able to communicate with their children's teachers as well — and that would be a powerful way for schools to increase parental involvement.

4. Girls use the Internet as much as boys but in different ways. In fact, the Internet may be one of the few public places where girls are equally as involved as boys. The findings indicate that girls are comfortable and competent on the Internet. Girls use the Internet for education, schoolwork, e-mail and chat rooms. Boys are likely to use the Internet for entertainment and games. Overall, there is no statistical difference in the proportion of girls and boys who use the internet. Clearly, this encouraging news debunks any remaining stereotypes about technology-phobic girls when it comes to the Internet.

5. Schools have the opportunity to help narrow the gap between the haves and have-nots. Already, schools are providing significant Internet access for students who otherwise would have none. In addition, low-income families have a strong belief in the Internet as a vehicle for their children's advancement. Internet use seems to have a strong effect on the school attitudes of low-income children, children from large families and children in singleparent households. In addition, there are no differences between children of various ethnic groups.

6. Parents trust their children's use of the Internet; however, they do have some con-< ems. Despite these concerns — and some gaps between parents' and children's perspectives of Internet Use — parents generally believe that the Internet is a safe place for their children. Most parents use a common-sense. balanced approach to overseeing their children's use of the Internet. They monitor the sites their children visit, limit the time their children spend online and set usage rules similar to those they set for television viewing. There are gaps between parents' and children's perceptions about the amount of time children spend online, the amount of supervision children get and their rc-spectlve attitudes about internet use. But even with these Saps, parents and their chil-

ren — believe that parents have a good deal of awareness about their children's Internet use at home.