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Online Safety

Starting a conversation with a child about online safety
The most important activity you can undertake to help a child to stay safe online is to have a conversation.

  • reassure them that you're interested in their life, offline and online. Recognise that they'll be using the internet to research homework as well talking to their friends.
  • ask your child to show you what they enjoy doing online or apps they’re using so you can understand them.
  • be positive but also open about anything you're worried about. You could say "I think this site's really good" or "I'm a little worried about things I've seen here."
  • ask them if they're worried about anything, and let them know they can come to you.
  • ask them about their friends online and how they know they are who they say they are.
  • listen for the reasons why your child wants to use apps or site you don't think are suitable, so you can talk about these together.
  • ask your child what they think's okay for children of different ages so they feel involved in the decision making.
  • Become a friend or follower on the social media account that the child has signed up to.

 If you have been a victim of sexual online abuse or you're worried this is happening to someone you know, you can report it on this site.

https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/

Grooming

Children and young people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know. If you're worried about a child, the NSPCC have advice to help which can be accessed via the link below

Online abuse. This booklet contains information about what online harm is and ways you can effectively help and support your children.

Online Gaming- the positives and how to avoid the dangers.

Digital Parenting Magazine- produced by Vodaphone, offering advice and information about keeping children safe in the digital world.

The Digital Parenting magazine is no longer available but their web site is an excellent source of information for parents.

Excellent advice on the subject of on-line bullying

Fortnight is an online game which has received a great deal of media attention. Below is an advice sheet to help parents to understand and limit the potential risks associated with this game.

The use of social media is widespread amongst pupils in primary schools despite a minimum age of 13 being stipulated by most providers. Below is a short leaflet which outlines the key issues.

Other useful sites providing support and guidance regarding online safety

Parents wishing to support their children in using the internet safely will find lots of very useful tips and information on this site.

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

Thinkuknow offer a range of information about keeping yourself or a child you   know safe from child sexual exploitation.

For 5 to 7 year olds go to:

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/5_7/

For  8 to 10 year olds go to:

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/

For 11 to 13 year olds go to:

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/11_13/

Below, is a very well-written magazine on the theme of online safety. If you find it of interest, you are able to subscribe to receive new issues by following this link:

http://www.esafety-adviser.com/latest-newsletter/

DITTO online safety magazine

  1. setting-boundaries-around-gaming pdf