First-generation single-child parents have discovered yet another use of the Internet: finding playmates for their children.

 

These parents, the early netizens, were once the chat room beauties and beasts, discussion forum contributors, managers, and the Joes and Joans living in separate parts of the country looking for cyber romance.

 

A decade later their online roles have all but faded, giving way to a new, genuine identity as hardworking parents.

 

Most of their children are of pre-school age, still incapable of making sense of the adult world. Few can independently surf the Internet or communicate effectively. Even fewer have friends in the same age group to play with.

 

So, once again, these young parents have turned to the Internet -- this time for help.

 

On Beijing's Huilongguan neighborhood network forum, Heizaoma, kindergarten boy Heizao's mother, asked if there were boys aged between 4 and 6 who would like to play basketball over the weekend. In 10 days, 13 parents signed up for the game, and some fathers even volunteered to coach.

 

Online forums for lower-income communities and high-end ones alike have become very popular.

 

Young parents plan for their children various sporting activities, as well as simple neighborhood gatherings

 

This type of information is also discussed and shared across other forums.

 

Beijing mother Pangduduma asked on iyaya, China's leading online community for young parents, whether fellow parents would like to take their children to a puppet show. A 5 percent discount would be applied to groups of more than 20 people.

 

In another post, a mother was looking for two children living in the same area who would like to attend weekend English classes with her second-grade son.

 

With most parents working overtime, "home-alone" children yearn for friendship. But parents are concerned about who they make friends with. Searching for playmates online has therefore emerged as a next best choice.

 

Child experts, though, remain skeptical of this trend. Some doubt its popularity; others question its reliability.

 

Not many children are actually involved in online peer-finding activities with the support of their parents, said child education expert Shen Xiaoping.

 

Shen said the ones who do seldom benefit any more than those who search for playmates without the aid of the Net.

 

"It will never become a mainstream thing," she told China Daily.

 

Despite their intentions, whatever negative experiences parents may have had with the Internet in the past might form an influence on their children, she warned.

 

She said the Internet has no space or content boundaries.

 

"Children lack the ability to differentiate the good from the bad, and parents who search online might let their children fall victim.

 

"Parents ought to be more responsible," Shen said.

 

(China Daily May 10, 2007)