Keeping Safe Online
The internet is a great place to explore, learn and have lots of fun, however, it can be dangerous if it is not used responsibly. With the ever growing popularity of social networking, sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube people often know more about your family than you may think.
Top Tips.
Be involved in your child’s online life.
For many of today’s young people there is no line between the online and offline worlds, Young people use the Internet to socialise and grow and, just as guide and support them offline, you should be there online too. Talk to them about what they’re if they know understand they are more likely to approach you if they need support.
Keep up-to-date with your child’s development online.
Be inquisitive and interested in the new gadgets and sites that your child is using. It’s important to continue to discuss boundaries so that they evolve as your child’s use of technology does.
Know what connect to the Internet and how.
Nowadays even the TV connects to the internet. Your child will use all sorts of devices and gadgets; make sure you’re aware of which ones can connect to the internet such as their phones or games consoles. Also, find out how they are accessing the internet – is it your connection or a neighbour’s Wifi? This will affect whether your safety settings are being applied.
Consider the use of parental controls on devices that link to the internet, such as TV, laptops, computers, games consoles and mobile phones.
Parental controls are not just about locking and blocking, they are a tool to help you set appropriate boundaries as your child grows and develops. They are not the answer to your child’s online safety, but they are a good start and are not as difficult to install as you might think. Service providers are working hard to make them simple, effective and user friendly. Talk to your service provider and learn how to set your controls.
Emphasise that not everyone is who they say they are.
Make sure your child knows never to meet up with someone they only know online. People might not always be who they say they are. Make sure your child understands that they should never meet up with anyone without taking a trusted adult with them.
Know what to do if something goes wrong.
Just as in the offline world, you want to help your child when they need it, Therefore, it is important to know when and how to report any problem.
How do I talk to my child about what they’re up to online?
As a parent or carer you have a challenging job, you need to know what your children are doing online and also help them to do it in a safe way. With technology changing on a day-to-day basis, the best way to stay informed is to get involved.
Here are two good ways to help you keep up-to-date with your children and teach them the basics of staying safe:
1. Let them teach you.
The people who know best about what your children are up to online, are your children! Get them to tell you about what sites they’re using. Ask them questions such as:
· Why do they like the site?
· What can they do on it?
· What’s so fun about it?
· Who uses it at school?
· Who you can talk to?
· Who are their friends on it?
This is a good way to develop a trusting relationship with your child about what they are up to online.
2. Reach an agreement.
A good way to set boundaries with your child about what they can and can’t do online is to create an agreement with them.
Here are some examples of the areas you might want to discuss:
· Limits on the amount of time your child spends online, or playing computer games.
· Having regular screen breaks – at least five minutes every 45-60 minutes.
· Not sharing any pictures they wouldn’t be happy to share with you.
· Not giving out personal details, such as mobile phone number and address, to people they don’t know and trust.
· Coming to you if they are concerned. Or, if not, knowing where they can go for independent help and support.
What to do if you need help.
If you need immediate help or you have a real emergency, call 999 or contact your local police here:
In England and Wales: http://ww.police.uk/
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP)
The NCA’s CEOP Command (formerly the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) works with child protection partners across the UK and overseas to identify the main threats to children and coordinates activity against these threats to bring offenders to account. We protect children from harm online and offline, directly through NCA led operations and in partnership with local and international agencies.
Mrs L A Martin, Mr A Rogers and Miss K Haygarth have completed CEOP’s Think U Know training and is now a representative of CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection).
For more detailed information about Think You Know please visit http://www.thinkyouknow.co.uk
Kidsafe
Kidsafe is an organisation that as the name suggests are actively committed to helping keep kids safe across the UK and Eire. Our children’s safety is unfortunately a major issue these days, not only for parents and teachers but also for everybody.??The philosophy at Kidsafe is to make children more aware of the dangers they face without destroying their sense of adventure. Therefore, we believe the best approach is to make learning about safety fun.
Mrs L Gateshill and Mrs C Dunn have recently completed Kidsafe training that enables them to deliver a range of sessions to children across the primary age range. These sessions will cover topics such as: e-safety; safeguarding; abuse and child protection.
For more information on Kidsafe please visit http://www.kids-safe.net
ChildLine
You can also ring ChildLine on 0800 1111 where you can speak to someone in private and the number will not show up on your phone bill. ChildLine is managed by the NSPCC is there to help you so please don’t be afraid to make the call,
The ChildLine website also offers excellent help and advice on a whole range of issues. For more information please visit http://www.childline.org.uk or http://www.nspcc.org.uk
Tik-Tok
Click here for important parental guidance about the Tik-Tok app.
