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.
E-safety is an integral part of children’s education in today’s digital world and is embedded in their learning at school. We also want to help our parents and children improve their own understanding of e-safety issues, so they can learn to use the internet and all digital media in a safe and secure way.
The internet is an ever-changing world. You might be struggling to keep up with the things your child is doing online, you may 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 Thinkyouknow website will help address some of the following:
- What is my child doing online?
- How do I talk to my child about what they are doing online?
- What risks might my child face?
- What tools are there to help me keep my child safe?
At Home
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.
There is a wealth of information attached below and a variety of recommended websites to support you with issues around e-safety. You can also engage with your children regarding their use of the internet while at home. Here are some conversation starter ideas 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.
Please make use of the links below from 'National Online Safety' that set out the information and risks parents need to know about various apps and website.
