The internet is such an integral part of children's lives these days. It opens up so many educational and social opportunities, giving them access to, quite literally, a world of information and experiences.
Whether on a computer at school, a laptop at home, a games console or mobile phone, children and young people are increasingly accessing the internet whenever they can and wherever they are.
As you would protect your child in the real world, you will want to make sure that they are safe whatever they are doing. Like learning to cross the road, online safety skills are skills for life. If your child understands the risks and can make sensible and informed choices online, they can get the most from the internet and stay safe whilst doing so – particularly from those people who might seek them out to harm them.
So, how can you protect your child online?
The answer is simple. If you understand the internet and understand what the risks are, there are a number of things you can do that will make your child safer online...
If your son is in Year 7, he will have recently received an Internet Safety CDROM to be viewed at home together with parents/carers. Do make sure it isn’t buried at the bottom of his bag.
“Know It All for Parents” is an Award-winning CDROM produced by Parents for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) the government agency leading the national drive to ensure the effective and innovative use of technology throughout learning. It is aimed at parents and carers to help them understand the internet and help keep their children safer online.
If your son is in a higher year you can find all the content free to view at www.childnet.com/kia - copies in languages other than English are also available. Please also see http://www.thinkyouknow.co.uk/parents/ for excellent “keeping up with young people online information.”
