Online Safety

As a parent you'll know how important the internet is to children - they use it to learn, play, socialise and express themselves.  It's a highly creative place of amazing opportunities.  But the technology children use every day can seem a bit daunting and you might worry about the risks your child can face online - such as bullying, contact from strangers or the possibility of them seeing illegal or inappropriate content. 

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You can download a simple checklist from NSPCC that may help you start to protect your children online and decrease the risks they face.  Or you can engage with your children regarding their use of the internet while at home. 

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Here are some conversation starter ideas for parents from www.childnet.com

• Ask your children to tell you about the sites they like to visit and what they enjoy doing online.

• Ask them about how they stay safe online. What tips do they have for you, and where did they learn them? What is OK and not OK to share?

• Ask them if they know where to go for help, where to find the safety advice, privacy settings and how to report or block on the services they use.

• Encourage them to help. Perhaps they can show you how to do something better online or they might have a friend who would benefit from their help and support.

• Think about how you use the internet as a family. What could you do to get more out of the internet together and further enjoy your lives online

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Here are some key rules for children when playing or working online:

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• Always ask a grown up before you use the internet. They can help you find the best thing to do.

• Don’t tell strangers where you live, your phone number or where you go to school. Only your friends and family need to know that.

• Don’t send pictures to people you don’t know. You don’t want strangers looking at photos of you, your friends or your family.

• Tell a grown up if you feel scared or unhappy about anything.