On this page you will find ideas for learning about online safety at home as well as advice for safety settings for your devices.
The relationship you have with your child is the most important factor in keeping them safe. It's good to talk to your child about staying safe online so that they know you are there to listen to them when they need you.
Something fun to start us off...
Safe/ Unsafe
For some of our learners, building the basic concept of safe / not safe is their starting point. Learning to respond to a change in your voice, "ah ah!" or "stop" are all early steps in this process. Your response to your child's behaviour reinforces the "rules" for safety - e.g. stopping them from climbing on the furniture teaches that it's not a good idea!
Symbols are a good way to support this. A good symbol you can draw easily at home is a big red cross.
We use this at school to represent no. It's a good symbol for kids to learn because it can be used to show a change - e.g. a red cross through swimming on the timetable to show it isn't happening today.
Putting a red cross on places you don't want your child to access can help to reinforce that message. E.g. sticking it on the cutlery drawer. Use simple language like "don't touch" with the symbol.
For some children doing this together can be fun - looking around your home and sticking a red cross around things that aren't safe in different rooms. You could add in a "green tick" for things that are safe.
Setting Limits / Parental Controls
Sometimes the kids are better at using technology than we are! Setting up some parental controls means you know what they are able to access and gives you peace of mind that you have the control. These controls also mean that if your child can access the technology but doesn't understand how to stay safe, you know that they should be.
There are guides online to setting these up on most sites, devices and apps. If in doubt Google it!
Here are some of the most commonly used ones...
Google has it's own site called "Safe Search Kids" that has child friendly versions of images, wikipedia and videos. You can also download an app version.
If you have a particular device that you'd like support to set up parental controls for, get in touch with your child's teacher. We aren't technology experts but it's likely we'll be able to find an answer for you somewhere!
Even with all parental controls set up, it's a good idea to keep devices that can access the internet in a place where you are able to monitor their use (like the living room).
Sharing Information
For children who are able to go online to play games, watch video or chat with friends an important concept to teach is private / not private.
This video provides a very simple explanation.
You could follow up after watching this by playing "private / not private". Write / draw out different examples on paper, read each one out to your child and then sort them into two piles together.
Private also refers to parts of our bodies. Understanding which body parts are private is something we reinforce regularly at school. The NSPCC's Pantosaurus song is a fun way to learn rules about this.
Rules
Establishing a set of rules for using the internet in your house gives kids clear boundaries. If you make this visual and stick it beside the computer or other device they are using it means they have something to refer to and helps them remember.
These rules might adapt over time based on your child's age, interest and understanding. It might be that you want to make different rules for different aged children in your family too.
Depending on your child's ability level this could be a set of rules you create together through discussion, write out / draw together, or it might be a very simple set of rules that you create with pictures to support it. Here's an example to help you. You can find further ideas here.
Further Information
There are loads of good websites giving guidance for parents and young people.
The Thinkuknow website is brilliant. It has information at all levels with general ideas, learning at home lesson packs and details about specific apps and how to report / block etc within them.
Newsround have lots of videos about keeping safe online that older pupils might find helpful, including cyberbullying and using social media.
If you have concerns over someone's inappropriate use of the internet you can report it to CEOP (the police department who deal with child protection online) or call the NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000).
We are here to help you protect you and your family, please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have concerns about anything related to your child's safety online.