E-Safety

Social media and internet use have become a central part of all our lives, whether at work or at home, including the lives of the children.  However this freedom can invite certain dangers.

Here are some tips to help to keep your child safe in the digital world from www.thinkuknow.co.uk 

• Talk to your children about what they are up to on line.  Be part of their online lives and take an interest.  If they know you understand, your children are more likely to come to you if they have problems.
• Watch the thinkuknow films and cartoons with your children.  As resources on the thinkuknow site are set out in age bands such as 5 to 7 years old and 8 to 10 years old, you will be able to find appropriate fun and educational resources that can help your children to develop online skills.
• Set boundaries for your children in the online world as you would in the real world, including what they can see, who they can talk to or share with, and how long they can spend online.
• Keep all equipment in a family space.  This is important in case they come across something that they don't want to see.
• Use parental controls on devices that connect to the internet including TVs, laptops, computers, games consoles and mobile phones.  Parental controls are not just about locking and blocking, they are a tool set appropriate boundaries as your child grows up.

Below is a checklist that you can use to help keep your children safe online.

Parental_Internet_Safety_Information_Sheets

Additional support is also available from the NSPCC on how to help your child keep safe online. Below is a link to the NSPCC website:

NSPCC keeping children safe online