From homework to games, research projects to connecting with friends, the internet’s a huge draw for children and a valuable modern-day resource. It’s also a potentially dangerous place to hang out.<\/p>\n
But while technology continues to\u00a0change and evolve, the principles of keeping young people safe<\/a> are the same online as they are offline. It\u2019s all about positive parenting, says Jenny Simpson, a former social work staff tutor with The Open University’s Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies.\u00a0<\/a>Here are seven top tips to keep your kids safe online.<\/p>\n You can only drive children around for so long before you have to let them take the bus alone. And the same principles apply when children and young people are online, says Jenny.<\/p>\n Keep an open dialogue with your children, let them experiment in a safe environment, talk about what they\u2019re doing and make it clear they can come to you and talk to you about anything. Educate them to be confident and safe online and set sensible boundaries. The strategy of following positive parenting stands the test of time and while the technology and online platforms change, the way we parent children \u2013 fostering good lines of communication, openness, honesty and support \u2013 remain the same.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n As well as talking to your children about using the internet, you need to lead by example. Sit down with them, surf the net together, talk about the information you find, ask them about headlines and what they believe to be true. The more you do together, the more you\u2019ll understand how your child makes use of the Internet. Be consistent. Use the internet in the way you\u2019d like your children to, safely and responsibly, and set the example.<\/p>\n Children can surf the net and engage with online games from as young as three or four-years-old. At this age the internet and devices like tablets can aid development, helping children get to grips with colours, shapes, letters and numbers in an interactive way. Set parental controls so young children can\u2019t accidentally view something they shouldn\u2019t and sit down and surf the internet together<\/a>.<\/p>\n Adolescence<\/a> is often a time of experimentation and learning as they go, particularly in terms of relationships and identity; it\u2019s all part of their developing into an adult. You can help by setting sensible parental controls, bookmarking regularly used sites on family devices, and talking to them about online activity. As a child enters adolescence, this presents another opportunity to have a \u2018cyber discussion\u2019 and set boundaries together.<\/p>\n There are a wealth of tools, technologies and apps out there<\/a> that can help keep children safe online, but don\u2019t make it all about restricting them. While there may be apps out there to turn the home wifi off in an evening while you\u2019re out for dinner, remember there\u2019s is a balanced to be reached.<\/p>\n Children will sometimes find alternative ways of gaining access to the internet, outside of the home. This can be happen through the use of their friends\u2019 mobiles and in public places like your local library. Therefore, it\u2019s important that your child is just as safe online when away from the family home as they are within it. This requires a sensitive balance between the use of apps and trusting your child.<\/p>\n Show children good ways to use the internet: bookmark regularly used \u2018safe\u2019 sites so they don\u2019t have to search and get distracted by adverts and pop-ups. Set up joint playlists and accounts for music. Do research together and try apps out on each other. The more you use the internet as a family \u2013 and talk about it \u2013 the more confident children will feel to experiment safely.<\/p>\n Jenny says: \u201cSit down, get active online with them and show them how the internet works: talking about headlines, if they believe all that they read and how to judge what\u2019s trustworthy. Talk how, when and with whom to share information. A basic rule of thumb is encourage your child to introduce you to the people they know in their online world, this will allow you to gauge whether the burgeoning friendship is real or not.”<\/p>\n Agree on a screenname\/username\/nickname for your children to use online. Stress the importance of not giving personal details out, and never to strangers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Remember, you\u2019re not alone. There is a wealth of information available on safer internet use and plenty of ways you and your children can report suspicious activities.<\/a> If there\u2019s anything you\u2019re not happy with, or you\u2019re uncomfortable about the behaviour of other people online, report it. You can report it directly to the site being used and to a variety of third-party organisations. If you want to find out more, visit a blog by leading researchers on the task of parenting for a digital future<\/a>.<\/p>\n Research shows that those who are vulnerable offline are vulnerable online, says Jenny. And who\u2019s to predict a moment or period of vulnerability in the life of any child? As Sonia Livingstone<\/a>, a leading researcher in this field<\/a> states, everything that is harmful to children can be found online and is amplified by ease of access. Talking to children and making it clear they can come to you if there\u2019s a problem is the best way to keep them safe. You can find out more about the impact the internet has children\u2019s lives in this video playlist<\/a>: a series of short interviews with Sonia Livingstone. And there’s more information on OpenLearn about safe sharing of information and cyber security<\/a>.<\/p>\n1) Positive parenting is key<\/h2>\n
2) Foster good habits online and lead by example<\/h2>\n
3) Factor in age and development<\/h2>\n
4) Set parental controls but don\u2019t forget to talk<\/h2>\n
5) Make it a family affair<\/h2>\n
6) Report suspicious activity<\/h2>\n
7) There\u2019s no such thing as a typical victim<\/h2>\n