Game end Joy

young children are natural with computers, leaving their distraught parents. Should we be worried?

There are things in life do not understand. The rules of rugby. The continued success of David Guetta. How a bicycle kick in Fifa 12.

"A is pressed and very fast, like almost at the same time," said my son, Patrick, who is six. I can see how their little thumbs to turn around between the buttons. He could play on the computer before I could read. Now comes to your Nintendo DS that I receive on my phone, which is filled with moments of leisure to FIFA, play games or alteration of your team or practice swings. I do not like, except when it is finished with a game of vital importance that the cries. My emails do not make me do it.

adults up events, weddings, birthdays, business lunches all day - and every time, at some point, I see little children gathered around a device: a phone , iPad, a portable console. They are absorbed, and calm, not to ruin someone's day, which is a good thing. Is it not? After all, when it comes to children, it makes little sense to try the technology does not exist. It would be like claiming that it was Lego. When children visit their respective houses, playing football (in real life), or playing football (in X-Box 360 or PlayStation 3) - or jump over each other in a great package and roll screaming.

If I'm honest, my son - and even his sister, who is one year and a half - have an easy to technology that I find scary at times. The baby scares me because it keeps off my iPhone. Patrick scares me because you can use the Wii controls, it changes from game to game, select players, setting up equipment for the time he was four. You still can not tie his shoelaces. There is research that says you're not alone: ??a survey of 2200 mothers in 11 countries found that 70% of two to five years were comfortable playing on the computer, but only 11% could increase test cords shoes

Most children

Aa shoes have velcro, of course. The lace is fine. But computer games still bothers me. There is lack of knowledge. I have no idea what Patrick is up when playing Zelda, or the cries of sanctions in Classic XI, and that, outside the odd game of Space Invaders, I've never been in computer games. Above all, my kids play with a variation of something I had when I was young, so if you get stuck, I can help you. But with computer games, I'm as useful as a textbook for a Commodore PET.

is an amiable man of 37 years. He has long hair and black clothes used, which means that business journalists he describes as rock 'n' roll. In fact, it is nerdier than: more than one enthusiastic non-stop, a man so devoted to his football game a week as well as companions, it is for your business. This business? Oh, just Moshi Monsters.

Moshi Monsters is a UK site for young children, where they collect their own monster, customize and explore: Mossi in other meetings, playing puzzles, win points to decorate your home, the acquisition of Moshlings cute animals appeal to the growing of flowers ... It looks horrible? You are not clear, aged between six and 12 years. Half of British children of that era, or used to have a pet Moshi. Worldwide, 60 million users and rising, a child

every second

signs on the site. Only became operational in 2008.

Gone are the days when children were sitting in front of rapt television, movies or books passively consumed, purchased the goods, and that's it. Children want input - which have always attracted the alternative characters, dressed like his own superheroes - and that the digital world does that give them that opportunity. It allows them to shape and share your leisure. Thus, with Moshi Monsters, not only to customize your avatar-freak, but come to design your room, spend your Rox (currency in Moshi, obtained by performing tasks), choose their Moshlings. And they can communicate with each other.

Which brings excitement bright, encouraging children and instantly hum-dinging, digital Fear for their parents. Michael understands. (Actually, I think a lot of what he does is to balance the wishes of children with their parents.) Moshi Monsters called a "walled garden", a training environment, noting that communication between users is monitored. You can not use the social aspect, for example, unless you (the parent) register with an e-mail Moshi receives and stores your IP address.

But he really believes that social networking Moshi little feature is useful for children. His argument is as follows:. You do not want to leave her 13 years in bulk in the boxing ring sharp Facebook social without some kind of physical training in elementary school

"We wanted to create common ground," he said. "Something between a Wild West and a website which is completely blocked. Treating children with respect, we know that are smart, and it is our and their parents tips on how to behave in this new world of Internet courageous. You might as well give them advice on how not to talk to strangers and how to cross the street. With Moshi, who learn in an environment that is deliberately designed for them. "

Even in real life, Moshi Monsters is a great atmosphere. Its headquarters are located in the building area in East London. Collection is like a bar of Tahiti beach. Moshi Monsters there jelly beans for customers, as football and an old (working) arcade game Pac-Man. It's like the idea of ??a set designer in Hollywood from the inside of the head of Nathan Barley. However. Moshi is not very high among the friends of my son, I think, in a bad mood. No children, anyway. The bright colors of the site and large-eyed characters are too cheesy, the games are not competitive enough.

tell my son Michael and his crew of refuseniks Moshi. He is calm as a man with a successful business ? 125 million should be.

"Girls click with a little more than children Moshi," he said. We are sitting in a meeting space outside shot of the main hall. "The separation is about 65% of girls, children 35% of boys off once they reach about eight or nine years old when he is more interested in the competitive elements of Moshi - ... Jigsaw Puzzle, the sets the idea of ??domination is much more than boy thing. so they absorb all the data on Pokemon cards, or learn all the flags of the world's women like the social aspect "

And when Moshi Monsters has been introduced this social element, in 2009, the site really took off. "Many children do not just want to play online. I want to experience things with friends, gifts to share with them, show them as adults, "says Michael. "We do not want to download photos or details that give the location, and not allow private messages, but I think it's wonderful that you can send a gift to friends or leave short messages on your bulletin board or chat in forums. "

The most common problems users have with social children is Moshi share your password with a friend from school and after "friend" to go into their room and clean. The Moshi done in this case is to try to get the person to give things, or if there was any intimidation, then you can ban a user for a short time - even permanently. Not only the Rox-thief a lesson, but the innocent party is beginning to understand how to behave safely in a social network.

Recently, Moshi Monsters is born from virtual to real world, with a magazine, which sells 200,000 copies a month, also trade cards, soft toys, Lego, stickers, bobble bots (do not ask) , books and music. I must say I hate everything tat, despite the efforts of Michael to maintain quality everything Moshi, challenging and relevant to young consumers. But then, he has no children. It does not have to store the day of quality condition.

Before leaving, I asked him why he thinks Michael Moshi Monsters has been successful. He told me that this is because of three elements: education, social and historical. Cultivar: Children love taking care of things, a doll or a pet in real life, a virtual pet or an imaginary friend. Social: they like to interact with each other. History: bored quickly. If an online environment does not have a decent history in the depths of his psyche, then the children stop using it.

enthusiastically. I love the uniqueness of the site - like the six central monsters were just above drawings stupid without market research. I also come with a game for Nintendo DS, called Moshling Zoo. It was a number on the DS list for 15 weeks, the longest list topper in history.

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