Using the Internet safely at home

While many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer filtering systems to help you safeguard your child at home, it remains surprisingly easy for children to access inappropriate material including unsuitable texts, pictures and movies. Parents are advised to set the security levels within Internet browsers with this in mind. Locating the computer or tablet in a family area, not a bedroom, will enable you to supervise children as they use the Internet. However, don’t deny your child the opportunity to learn from the wide variety of material and games available on the Internet. Instead, set some simple rules for keeping them safe and make sure they understand the importance of these rules.

Simple rules for keeping your child safe

To keep your child safe they should:

• set screen time limits and switch off times
• ask permission before using the Internet, tell you what they are doing
• only use devices in family space, not in bedrooms
• only use websites and games you have chosen together or a child friendly search engine.
• only email and message people they know
• limit use Internet chat rooms (on games consoles or devices)
• do not use their real name when using games on the Internet (create a nick name)
• never give out a home address, phone or mobile number
• never tell someone where they go to school
• never arrange to meet someone they have ‘met’ on the Internet
• only use a webcam with people they know
• ask them to tell you immediately if they see anything they are unhappy with.

Using these rules

Go through the rules with your child. It is also a good idea to regularly check the Internet sites your child is visiting e.g. by clicking on History and Favourites. Please reassure your child that you want to keep them safe rather than take Internet access away from them.

 

Stay switched on campaign

This campaign from ‘internet matters’ aims to remind parents to “stay switched on” around issues their children might be facing, including cyberbullying, screen time, peer pressure, online grooming and viewing inappropriate content.

Find out more here: https://www.internetmatters.org/ 

 

Talking to your children about staying safe online

We regularly use our RSHE lessons to remind your children about the importance of staying safe online. You can use some of the resources below to continue the conversation.

Breck Foundation

Ofsted have produced a useful ‘Online Safety Webinar’ for parents and schools. The webinar focuses on the work of the  Breck Foundation. This foundation is a self-funding charity, raising awareness of playing safe whilst using the internet. It was established following the death of a young boy called Breck who was groomed online.

The webinar lasts for around 1 hour. For parents who are short on time we would recommend that the first 23 minutes are watched, after that Ofsted focus on what schools and inspectors can do to keep children safe.

• Ofsted online safety webinar
• Breck foundation

Gaming

Things you can do to keep your child safe online:

• check your parental controls on your PC to stop then accessing inappropriate material;
• accessing games on a console or tablet? Here’s how to set parental controls: Ask About Games
• have a conversation, discuss sites and apps together, talk about any concerns they may have;
• talk about personal information and what not to share online;
• is your child accessing social networks? Most of these have an age limit of 13+, check the content and age limits of what they are accessing here: NetAware
• Is your child playing computer games, check the age limit here: Netaware

Other resources

As well as the Breck Foundation website, the NSPCC website  provides further resources and links on how to keep your child safe online.  Live My Digital, is an educational site aimed at families. The site has links to a video series which covers the following online safety themes:

• Cyberbullying
• The digital footprint
• Identity and self-esteem
• Relationships and grooming
• Security and privacy
• Sexting

 Other Useful Websites

 Childnet international, Parent and Carers Toolkit – Practical tips and advice on different aspects of keeping your child safe online.

Safe Search Engine – Child Friendly and Safe Search Engine

Promote good use of devices with your child from a platform for good.org – Click here when your child gets a new gadget. One of these cards might help establish good and safe use.

How to set up parental controls at home – Click here for a link to the Safer Internet centre’s guide to setting up parental controls at home.

Digital Parenting tips – Click here for digital parenting tips from vodafone by age groups

Think You Know – Click on the link for the Think You Know website

CEOP – click on the link to the CEOP site