Tuesday 9th February was Safer Internet Day, where the theme was, ‘An internet we trust: exploring reliability in the online world’. This was a global celebration all about technology and how children and young people can use the internet responsibly, respectfully, critically and creatively.
The younger children watched a story about Detective Digiduck and looked at advice that should be followed when searching online. Our older children had discussions about what it means to be safe online and produced posters about how to ‘stay smart’ when using the Internet.
Featured is an information poster from Tristan in Junior 4.
Steps you can take to keep your child safer online:
Parental controls: Parental controls have been designed to help you manage your child’s online activities. There are various types, some of which are free but others which can be bought. However, nothing is totally fool proof so this shouldn’t replace the support and guidance you give your child to help keep them safer. For more information and step by step instructions on setting up parental controls, visit:
Parental Controls & Privacy Settings Guides – Internet Matters.
Supervise their online activity: Keep the devices your child uses in communal areas of the house such as the living room or kitchen, where an adult is able to supervise. Primary-age children should not access the internet in private spaces alone, such as in a bedroom or bathroom.
Explore together and chat little and often: Ask your child to show you their favourite apps, games and sites and encourage them to teach you how to use these. Ask them if anything ever worries them online. Make sure they know they won’t be in trouble and can get help by talking to you or another adult they trust if anything happens online that makes them feel worried, sad or scared.
Please also see: ThinkUKnow
