Kids shopping away on the internet

While the Internet is an essential tool for most families, a number of parents do not have the time or expertise to use many of the time-saving opportunities it offers. As a result, they often turn to the family members who are monopolizing the computer anyway--the kids.

According to a national survey by Stars for Kidz, a Ringwood, N.J.-based provider of market research on young consumers, today's tech-savvy children have redefined their "household chores" to include cyber-assistance for their families. Those eight to 14 years old are pressed into such service for two major reasons: 47% help because their parents are "clueless" online and 29% report they need to help mom online because of her harried schedule.

Some kids assist their mothers with predictable tasks such as comparison shopping. However, there also are unexpected activities undertaken by youngsters like online banking, tax preparation, and travel plans. The majority of children polled believe they have a positive influence on family activities by helping their parents with online chores--but kids still will be kids.

"One-quarter on the children we surveyed admitted they have been 'busted' for doing something wrong on the Internet, and one-fifth of eight- to 14-year-olds have their own e-mail account that they are able to keep secret from their parents:' reveals Adele Schwartz, research director at Stars for Kidz.

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