Stay Safe Surfing...

The internet is an essential part of the 21st century.

It supports a lot of aspects of our modern life, for example, education, business and social interaction. As children move up through the school, their  access to various  types of technology/social media increases, whilst their exploration and curiosity increases too.

The positives of the digital world overwhelmingly outweigh the negatives, but children, schools and parents all need to be aware of  various online risks. 

Here are some safety tips to consider for children when they are using the internet:
1. Don’t give out personal information, e.g. full name, address and school information
2. Don’t talk to/agree to meet people you are unsure of on the internet
3. Always get permission from an adult / parent before visiting unfamiliar sites
4. Don’t post pictures of yourself without your parents’ permission
5. Do not download or install anything on your computer without your parents’ permission
6. If you have any questions about something you read, ask your parent or guardian

Let’s talk about it:
Having regular conversations with your child about their online life is so important. If you show an interest then they are more likely to come to you if they have a problem. Here is a list of questions to start with:

1. What games/apps are you playing?
2. Can I play with this game/app with you?
3. Do you have any online friends?
4. What would you do if you saw something upsetting online?
5. Do you understand what private information is?

#OnlineSafetyAtHome from 'Thinkuknow'

With school being closed, it is even more important to raise awareness of how to stay safe online. 'Thinkuknow' are providing families with E-safety activities to support parents, during this time, when children will be accessing the internet more frequently. Each fortnight, they will be releasing new home activity packs with simple 15 minute activities that you can do with your child. Stay tuned for new releases below. Happy surfing!