When children are young it is the best time to start to teach them about how to keep themselves safe online and how to have a healthy relationship with technology.
Many children have access to the internet in their homes through mobile phones, tablets and games. Ofcom’s Media Use (2020 report) report has found that 19% of 3-4 year olds have their own tablet, 52% of 3-4 year olds go online for an average of 9 hours a week and 45% use youtube.
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SO, WHAT ONLINE RISKS MIGHT CHILDREN BE EXPOSED TO?
Things they see which could be harmful or inappropriate
Inadvertently giving apps or websites permission to share their location or other personal information
Spending real money via in-app or in-game purchases
Sending images or information to people on the devise’s contact list
A stranger communicating with them and giving risk to online abuse
Children spending too much time using screens and missing out on play and adult interaction.
Family members demonstrating unhealthy behaviours or too much usage when using screens.
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HOW TO MINIMISE RISK?
Initiate conversations about online safety
Supervise your child when using a devise
Co-viewing programmes with your child to help them understand what they are seeing
Talk to your child about how to stay safe online i.e. If they are worried about something they’ve seen, let them know they can come to you
Use child safety search engines like Kiddle visual search engine (kids google) and youtube Kids
Check parental and privacy settings on each devise– ensuring safety modes, passwords and filters are applied and check regularly
Be aware that turning on filter settings can sometimes give a false sense of security
Turn off location settings
Ensure safety features on your internet is applied (see info below)
Set up controls that turn the internet off and on at certain times of the day
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PROMOTE A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP
Give a healthy time frame for media or online usage (1 hr max. for children under 5)
Enjoy screen free meal times together
Watch high quality TV programmes (TV isn't advised for children under 2)
Role model to your child screen free time and healthy usage at home
HOW TO SET UP HOME INTERNET FILTERS
PARENT GUIDES
Parent Guide NSPCC:
Parent Advice from CEOP Education:
CEOP Education have given lots of really useful information about the dark web, nude selfies, viral scares, parent privacy setting guides, end to end encryption,
FREE ONLINE SAFETY RESOURCES
Childnet: Free online storybooks for early years
Smartie the Penguin
Digiduck Stories
Jessie & Friends online (4-7 yr olds): https://www.ceopeducation.co.uk/parents/jessie-and-friends/
STORY BOOKS
·      Clickin Chicken
·      Troll Stinks
·      Online Safety by Sarah L Schuette
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