Keeping Your Child Safe Online

Children are only 'two clicks' away from viewing something age inappropriate online. Typing in a keyword which on the face of it can seem innocent can bring up something surprisingly different! This is where the importance of setting parental controls comes in.

Your child should never share personal information online, such as their date of birth, address or which school they attend. Photographs posted on social media sites should be appropriate. It is important for children to know that the second after they post a photo online or send it as a text message, they lose control of it.

The correct answer is "Yes" because it implies that the person knows how to resolve online bullying if their child is experiencing it. This suggests that the person is aware of the necessary steps to take, such as reporting the bullying to the appropriate authorities or blocking the bully. It also indicates that the person is knowledgeable about online safety and understands the importance of addressing and resolving such issues promptly.

Those who wish to harm children online often use screen names to select their potential victims. A screen name should never reveal any identifying information about a child.

An average 14 year old in the UK now spends an average of 4 hours a day on the internet. Research shows that spending this much time looking at a screen has a detrimental impact on how well children learn at school and also their general wellbeing.

There are a number of ways to set up your child's computer, tablet or phone to safeguard them. This will be one of the topics for discussion at our parent's E-Safety Information Evening on Tuesday 9th February, 6-7.30 in the ALC. Please do come along, everyone is welcome!

Social media is a big part of children's lives. If your child has a Facebook account or interacts on similar sites then most important thing to do is to make sure they have their privacy settings enabled and that they are behaving responsibly in terms of what they are posting. Social media sites are a hotbed for cyber bullying - remind your child to talk to you if they ever see or read anything which upsets or worries them.

Research shows that talking to your child is key to keeping them safe. Even if you don't feel you are a 'tech savvy parent' all you need to do is show an interest in what they are doing online.

Ask them to explain how social networking works or what apps they like. Be positive about what you see, but also be open about concerns you have: "I think this site's really good" or "I'm a little worried about things I've seen here".

Talk to your child about what you think is appropriate – but also involve them in the conversation. Ask what they think is OK for children of different ages – they'll feel involved in the decision-making.

Be aware that your child might talk about friends who use apps or visit sites that you've decided aren't suitable. Be ready to discuss your reasons, but recognise that they may not agree with you. Listen carefully for the reasons why.

Go through a final list of sites you both agree are OK, and work out when you'll next discuss it.

Children who use the internet alone in their bedroom are most at risk. Current advice is to locate family computers in high traffic areas where adults are likely to be present. Tablets and phones should be taken away at night time.