Come to think of it, all I really need to know about the ethics of blogging, I learned in kindergarten. Really! The art of blogging smart and wise is not found on your diploma cert, or by googling – but there, in the playground at school, crayons shared with a friend and the clay they play.
SHARE EVERYTHING
Sharing is a humbling trait that every kid should learn to have. Share toys, share crayons, share biscuits and share a space as they sit cross-legged in front of the teacher.
Starting from an early age, parents should involve their kids in sharing activities, so that when they’re in kindy, they’ll display this trait effortlessly without being forced.
In blogging, you can share anything and everything you found too!
- An informative article on a favorite blog
- A terrfying accident on The Star Online that you want to be made as a lesson
- A flaw you discovered in a baby product you used for your kid
- An interesting article on a website
- Simply a feeling that you’re having about your day
PLAY FAIR
The rule is to carry the pingpong ball on a spoon, to the finishing line. If a kid holds the pingpong ball while he runs, he’s already playing unfairly! Kids need to learn that certain things come with rules and when you break the rule, you have to pay.
Bloggers should be honest and fair in gathering, reporting and interpreting information:
- If you publish an information you’re not sure of, or is inaccurate, you must be accountable for your actions
- If you’re not sure, mention that – so that readers know that your stand, and not take your word as a whole
- Take caution when writing about a subject you’re not well-versed on, and mention which ones are facts, which ones are just opinions
- Some bloggers state a disclaimer – starting a blog post with a statement saying something like the following review is based strictly on personal use of a product
- This is so that the readers will be well-aware of what they’re reading from your blog – a googled info, your own personal opinion, or a quote from others.
Be sure you know the difference between facts and information, and comment and quote:
- Facts are unchangeble, and has been proven
- Information should be valid if taken from an official website, for example
- Comments are just another person’s opinion about an issue – doesn’t mean it’s wrong, but it could be bias and favorable to one side
PUT THINGS BACK WHERE YOU FOUND THEM
There’s a reading-quietly time at the kindy, and kids may take any books they like from the few colorful cupboards in the kindergarten. Once done, kids must remember from which color cupboard they got their books from – and put them back at the right place.
At home, you can start with shoes. Your kids use them all the time especially when going out, and you use shoes too! So when your kid sees you puting back your shoes in the shoe-rack, he or she would automatically follow. Soon, they’ll be puting back toys in the toy box once they finished playing!
In blogging, you should give credit as to where you found an article, information or picture.
- When you quote a paragraph from wikipedia or a favorite blog, never forget to give credit to the original writer
- You can also add the link from which you found the information
- You can also tell the writer beforehand about your admiration for his/her points and ask permission to re-publish it in your blog
DON’T TAKE THINGS THAT AREN’T YOURS
Your kid’s water bottle has the Powerpuff Girls on it, but today she brings home a Barbie Doll water bottle – why, because she says she says it’s pretty! Kids must learn ‘what’s yours and mine’ – and not take things that aren’t theirs.
From our college days we’re reminded never to plagiarize, or simply cut and paste – and when we do – we give credit to the original writer, or link the source.
DON’T HIT PEOPLE
Protect, but don’t attack! Kids can learn that during any ‘adversity’. It is reasonable to counter-attack, but not to hit other kids on purpose, or simply because he wants to use the swing first!
Disagreeing to certain points raised in someone’s blog is simply healthy – but you must be aware of how you go about expressing that disagreement. Bursting out in anger shows lack of thoughts, while bad words just show a reflection of you as a person.
If you want to give comments, do it with grace. Agree or disagree, and support with valid reasons. Start a healthy debate. Other bloggers will respect you more.
SAY SORRY WHEN YOU HURT SOMEBODY
Your kid runs, and accidentally trip another kid – He/She should immediately say sorry. This simple word and expression should be ingrained in them so that there’s no issue of ego or stubbornness when it comes to asking them to apologize for things they did wrong.
Bloggers should know the word ‘respect’ and ‘apologize’ too.
- You must be sensitive when writing about your spouse, family members, close friends and employers as not to misjudge or embarass them
- You can apply this when writing about famous people too
- Avoid empty gossip stories just so you could get a lot of comments
- When you write about subjects you’re not well-versed on, and someone corrected one of the infos you give, you should admit your mistake, and correct them promptly
FLUSH AFTER USE
Flush – this goes without saying! This lesson should come hand in hand while potty-training your kid!
If you want to ‘flush’ out an unwanted person from reading your blog, you make your blog private, and give access to people you trust. However, personally I feel this robs you off the satisfaction of knowing that many people, strangers even – have benefited from the information and stories you put in your blog.
But then again, this is your choice.
- You can also moderate your comments section, and only published the ‘approved comments’
- You can set up word verification for comments, although this might decrease your chances of getting a lot of it
- You might also delete unwanted comments from people who disagrees with you, but this may also decreases your readership – unless this was your intention!
LOOK LEFT, LOOK RIGHT, LOOK LEFT AGAIN BEFORE CROSSING THE STREET
Every kid should know the rule of crossing a street. Ideally, of course an adult should be present to hold their hands, but it’s still a rule worth knowing!
Sceptical about trying out Nuffnang or Google Adsense?
- Google, read and find out more!
- Ask around, especially other bloggers who has long been puting ads in their blogs
- Follow Little Mama’s articles on her ‘marshmallows’
- When you do sign up, find out ways to increase traffic, and earn more hits on your blog
Try it, you have nothing to lose! I myself am in the process of getting more information. You’ll get a lot of ‘marshmallows’ once you learn the rules!
TAKE A NAP EVERY AFTERNOON
Some kids need their afternoon naps, or they’ll get cranky! You bloggers should also take a break once in a while.
Either you’re a SAHM, or FTWFather, you need to prioritize – between family, work, your own time and blogging.
LINE UP TWO BY TWO, AND HOLD HANDS
As bloggers, we do yearn for higher traffic but we shouldn’t compete with each other – it’s just a personal achievement if we have a nice layout, great content, and lots of hits. In this sense, any info we have on the best breast-pump, most effective way to encourage your kid to brush teeth or where to get the cheapest carpets should be shared!
I guess the best example I could think of right now is Little Mama’s current effort to share with us mombloggers about her wonderful ‘marshmallows’ from Google Adsense and Nuffnang!
Other than that, I also applaud all mommies (and a few dads too!) in sharing their knowledge and experience for all to learn from.
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
In kindergarten, the rules are straightforward, simple and easy to understand. Apply it to blogging, and you’ll find that the rules are also straightforward and simple, if only we stop awhile to see it that way.
Any other simple do’s and don’ts that you remember from your kindergarten days?
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saya suka
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syigim Reply:
March 15th, 2010 at 3:46 PM
thanks fid@yuitsumuni
saya pun suka feedback 
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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.-= Hanz´s last blog post ..Finally final prizes announcement of TheHoneybunch Giveaway : Who is the Lucky 9? =-.
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Hanz Reply:
March 15th, 2010 at 1:56 PM
another thing, cakap pasal flush, nasib baik dah enable, after 10 days comment moderation…lately ni banyak tul cik anon nak spam…
.-= Hanz´s last blog post ..Finally final prizes announcement of TheHoneybunch Giveaway : Who is the Lucky 9? =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 15th, 2010 at 3:48 PM
hanz, i miss my kids too!
kat blog i pun ade ‘jurujual’ yg nk kena flush! 
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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Great article.
Bagus dijadikan panduan.
Kekangan saya masih lagi masa.
Susahnya nak cari masa untuk cari bahan & tulis artikel yang berkualiti dan berguna untuk orang lain.
Balik2 cerita pasal sendiri. Hehe..
.-= me_czar´s last blog post ..I will make these… one fine day… =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 15th, 2010 at 3:50 PM
me_czar, kadang2 citer psl diri sendiri pun bole bagi panduan or lesson for others tanpa kita sedar. contohnya kalo kita citer yg kita terbeli brand A yg lagi mahal dr brand B tp brand B perform better, so org pun bole dpt info dr citer kita tu
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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Info yang bagus!
.-= Miss Q´s last blog post ..LUCKY GIVEAWAY by MoMMy Qastalani =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 18th, 2010 at 3:36 PM
thanks miss Q
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another great posting, thanks.
.-= ILikePaperCutting´s last blog post ..Ecojot Wallpaper =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 15th, 2010 at 3:52 PM
thanks ILikePaperCutting
your blog is a joy to read. coz i like arty stuff too! 
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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very informative!!
.-= ernie muneerah´s last blog post ..My weekday schedule =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 15th, 2010 at 3:53 PM
thanks ernie muneerah
glad i could help 
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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wow… great article,
syigim, u are really love writing right
.-= comellote´s last blog post ..Bagaimana Menghasilkan Genetik Yang Baik =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 15th, 2010 at 3:56 PM
thanks comellote!
memang suka sgt sgt sgt sgt! i LOVE writing hihi 
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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As usual, two thumbs up, syigim
Very informative …
.-= DNNA´s last blog post ..Bersendirian =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 15th, 2010 at 9:43 PM
thanks DNNA
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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great correlation between kindy’s rules and blogging..never thought about that before..but now reading your entry it does make a lot of sense..
somehow I realized that many adults never take it to heart and brain on what it takes to be a mature person..maybe they should be sent to kindy once again to let them learn the basic rules in life
hehe..
.-= MQ´s last blog post ..My Favourite Surfing Spot =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 15th, 2010 at 9:45 PM
true, MQ… as we grew older and THOUGHT we’re wiser, we tend to forget these little rules we were taught as kids. time to go back to basics!
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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Satu lagi artikel berguna buat semua… keep up ur gud work syigim.. I like ur ways in writing an article.. simple.. tersusun.. senang nak paham… mmg berbakat dalam penulisan..
.-= aidiena´s last blog post ..BoNDa’s 1st Giveaway – Contest: Anugerah Terindah =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 3:23 AM
thanks aidiena! really appreciate the sweet words
make me wanna keep on writing! 
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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Great article, kena curi masa la skit untuk tulis great article nih
.-= Norry´s last blog post ..Naim bercoti..gambar kat eagle ranch resort and tiara beach resort =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 3:25 AM
thanks Norry!
kalo xde masa bole tulis entry pendek2 je, asalkan content menarik sure bole jadi ‘great’! 
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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Di sini rupanya Puan Syigim mewarnakan kanvas dengan tulisan2 yang begitu menarik sekali!
I love ur style…flowing effortlessly like a stream through a forest of thoughts….ermmm, macam pernah ku baca ayat ini, tapi di mana ya??
Great lessons here…may I quote ur link in my blog? Pleaseeeeee
.-= Ghost writer´s last blog post ..Part 1: Introducing Sani… =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 18th, 2010 at 3:25 PM
thanks for ur wonderful praises, ghost writer. hmm, i wonder if i know u in person?
sure you may quote this link with credit to MBP
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I never know that you were involved in early childhood education before. BTW great article. I totally agree with what you’ve said.
Those are the things that I’v learnt and still am learning in Peachgrove Playcentre here in NZ.
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syigim Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 4:46 PM
thanks kak nur
appreciate anything u can share about what u learn frm peachgrove playcenter 
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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Nice article! Thank u for sharing it
.-= Intan´s last blog post ..My 1st Buffered Earnings-NUFFNANG! =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 4:46 PM
thanks intan
always happy to share!
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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syigim…where do you get your ideas, I wonder….
.-= Ica´s last blog post ..When in Bandung…..Part 2 =-.
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syigim Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 8:50 PM
ica, ideas are there right under our nose – in conversations with a friend, something we read, and something we see – if only we stop a moment to realize…
.-= syigim´s last blog post ..Happy Birthday to a Waffle-Freakazoid =-.
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sorry to say, but this article sounds very similar with a very famous book entitled –
“What I Want To Know I Already Learned In Kindergarten”
i noticed that some of the words are totally taken from there.
thousand apologies if i’m wrong.
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syigim Reply:
March 18th, 2010 at 3:23 PM
my, my what sharp eyes you have, intan!
yes, my article was inspired by some of the points in that book by robert fulghum. the only similarities are some headings, and the sentiment of the book – that you can learn anything in life by following the simple rules in kindy, including blogging. however, his book has nothing to do with blogging.
in fact, i’ve written a post about it last yr in my personal blog for anyone interested in reading the actual excerpt. click here.
http://syigimsharif.blogspot.com/2009/02/kindergarten-lessons-for-politicians.html
anyway, thanks for pointing it out!
i apologize and deeply regret my oversight of not mentioning it.
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