Understanding how to be safe online
Now, more than ever, whilst you are taking part in home learning, it is important to be aware and be safe online.
A video for parents and carers:
- An introduction to the Thinkuknow education programme
- Advice on how to keep their child safe online, including having the right conversations about online safety.
Useful Links:
Are you…
5-7
8-11
ParentsBe Internet Legends:
At school, your child has been discovering how to be safe and confident online as part of Google’s Be Internet Legends programme in partnership with Parent Zone. Here are some things that you can do at home to keep your children entertained (and safe) whilst they are away from school.
Here is a link to Interland – an online game which brings Be Internet Legends to life: g.co/interland
ThinkuKnow:
The internet has changed all of our lives, particularly our children’s. For parents and carers this opens up a whole new world of things to be aware of. For many of us, this can all be a bit too much.
You might be struggling to keep up with the things your child is doing online, you might wonder whether what they are doing is safe, and you might also be thinking how can I be as good a parent online as I am offline?
The ThinkuKnow website is really helpful and aims to make online parenting simple and offers many practical tips and simple guidance.
Looking after the digital wellbeing:
Childnet International has produced guidance for parents and carers on looking after the digital wellbeing of children and young people, which you may find useful and want to share with your parents/carers and/or put on your school’s website. The guidance includes having an awareness of how being online can make children and young people feel, and how they can look after themselves and others when online. The guidance includes: age specific information for 3-7 year olds, 7-11 year olds, 11-14 year olds and 14-18 year olds, about how children and young people are interacting with the internet; top tips to support young people at this age; and ideas to help start a conversation about digital wellbeing.
The guidance can be accessed via [this link].
Social Networks Guidelines:
NSPCC’s Net Aware provides guidance to parents on social networking sites, apps and games which children use and how to keep their children safe in today’s digital world. It can be accessed via https://www.net-aware.org.uk/. Given that many such new sites constantly appear, this website can be quite useful to stay up to date and keep children safe.
Concerned about online grooming?
Make a Report!
Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with your child online? Are you concerned about online grooming or sexual behaviour online? If the answer is YES, Make a report to one of CEOP’s Child Protection Advisors.
Top Tips:
• Talk to your child about what they’re up to online:
Be a part of their online life; involve the whole family and show an interest. Find out what sites they visit and what they love about them, if they know you understand they are more likely to come to you if they have any problems.
• Watch Thinkuknow films and cartoons with your child:
The Thinkuknow site has films, games and advice for children from five all the way to 16.
• Set boundaries in the online world just as you would in the real world:
Think about what they might see, what they share, who they talk to and how long they spend online. It is important to discuss boundaries at a young age to develop the tools and skills children need to enjoy their time online.
More information:
If you have any concerns or would like to know more, please don’t hesitate to speak to us. You can find out more about how children use social media, the apps they use, the risks they face, how to use privacy settings, and advice and tips about how to talk to your children at: