1. Helping your children to stay safe online
Online Safety
Helping your children to stay safe online

2. What are they doing online?

3. The 4 C’s Conduct Content Contact Commercialism
Children may be at risk because of their own behaviour, for example, by sharing too much information
Children need to be aware of the impact that their online activity can have on both themselves and other people, and the digital footprint that they create on the internet. It’s easy to feel anonymous online and it’s important that children are aware of who is able to view, and potentially share, the information that they may have posted. When using the internet, it’s important to keep personal information safe and not share it with strangers. Discuss with your child the importance of reporting inappropriate conversations, messages, images and behaviours and how this can be done.
Content 
Age-inappropriate or unreliable content can be available to children
Some online content is not suitable for children and may be hurtful or harmful. This is true for content accessed and viewed via social networks, online games, blogs and websites. It’s important for children to consider the reliability of online material and be aware that it might not be true or written with a bias. Children may need your help as they begin to assess content in this way. There can be legal consequences for using or downloading copyrighted content, without seeking the author’s permission.
Contact
Children can be contacted by bullies or people who groom or seek to abuse them
It is important for children to realise that new friends made online may not be who they say they are and that once a friend is added to an online account, you may be sharing your personal information with them. Regularly reviewing friends lists and removing unwanted contacts is a useful step. Privacy settings online may also allow you to customise the information that each friend is able to access. If you have concerns that your child is, or has been, the subject of inappropriate sexual contact or approach by another person, it’s vital that you report it to the police via the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre ( If your child is the victim of cyberbullying, this can also be reported online and offline. Reinforce with your child the importance of telling a trusted adult straight away if someone is bullying them or making them feel uncomfortable, or if one of their friends is being bullied online.
Commercialism
Young people can be unaware of hidden costs and advertising in apps, games and websites
Young people’s privacy and enjoyment online can sometimes be affected by advertising and marketing schemes, which can also mean inadvertently spending money online, for example within applications. Encourage your children to keep their personal information private, learn how to block both pop ups and spam s, turn off in- app purchasing on devices where possible, and use a family address when filling in online forms.

4. Online Gaming What are the risks of online games?
Children may view inappropriate or upsetting content if they play games that aren't suitable for their age. This could include sexual or violent material. It might be in-game content or produced by other players.
Some players can be abusive towards others or try to exclude them from the game. Some players may also hack another user's account or try to steal and destroy their virtual possessions. This can be as upsetting for a young person as if it happened in real life.
Children may play with adults they don't know. People of all ages play games. Some adults may exploit this and try to build an emotional connection with a child for the purpose of grooming.
Some children may find it hard to stop playing games or find that gaming is getting the way of them doing other activities. 

5. Making online gaming safer
1. Check the game's content What is the age rating? Have you looked at the game yourself? Do some research online 2. Know how to mute, block and report Help children understand that people they meet online may not always be who they claim to be. Some games let you mute, block and report other users. Make sure your child knows how to do this if someone in the game upsets them or makes them feel uncomfortable. Remind your child they can come to you if they’re ever worried. 3. Be Share Aware Remind your child not to give out any personal information, photos or videos to anyone online, even if they know them. If your child plays games with people they don’t know, remind them not to take the conversation off the game, onto other social networks or into a private chat. 4. Activate safety settings Turn on parental controls. The Apple App Store lets you turn off in-app purchases on iPads and iPhones. And The Apple App Store and Google Play let you create a pin code that must be entered before you buy. You can also turn on privacy settings on some games to control what other users can see about you and stop strangers from contacting you. 5. Keep the conversation going Have regular conversations with your child about staying safe online. Agree what games are suitable for them to play and help them understand why others are inappropriate. Talk to them about the types of games they may be watching on game streaming sites. Remind them they should tell a trusted adult, like a teacher or parent, if they see or hear something that upsets them when gaming.

6. Parental Controls What are parental controls?
Parental controls are software and tools which you can install on phones or tablets, games consoles or laptops – and even your home broadband.
You can also use them to help you block or filter the content your child sees when searching online.
Parental controls are also available to help you to:
plan what time of day your child can go online and how long for
stop them from downloading apps they're too young for 
manage the content different members of the family can see.
So whatever your child is doing online, there’s a way that you can help keep them safe.

7. Share Aware Encourage your child to be Share Aware
Talk to your child about what 'personal information' is - such as address, full name, phone number, address and school name - and why it's important.
Explain simple ways to protect privacy. For example, avoiding usernames like birthdates or locations that give away too much information.
Discuss images and photos, and what might be appropriate. Help your child understand how photographs can give people a sense of your personality, and that sharing the wrong kind of image can give the wrong impression.
Explain that it isn't easy to identify someone online. People aren't always who they say they are, so don't share personal information. If it's someone who genuinely knows your child, they shouldn't need to ask for personal information online.
Tell your child that if they're in any doubt they should talk to you first.

8. Talking to your children
It is really important to chat with your children on an ongoing basis about staying safe online.
Ask your children to tell you about the sites they like to visit and what they enjoy doing online.
Ask them about how they stay safe online. What tips do they have for you, and where did they learn them? What is OK and not OK to share? Give examples of what others are doing.
Ask them if they know where to go for help, where to find the safety advice, privacy settings and how to report or block on the services they use.
Encourage them to help someone! Perhaps they can show you how to do something better online or they might have a friend who would benefit from their help and support.
Think about how you each use the internet. What more could you do to use the internet together? Are there activities that you could enjoy as a family?

9. A Family Agreement Explore sites and apps together
Talk about what might be OK for children of different ages. Ask your child what sites or apps they like. Write a list, and look at them together.
Be positive about what you see, but also be open about concerns you have: "I think this site's really good" or "I'm a little worried about things I've seen here".
Talk to your child about what you think is appropriate – but also involve them in the conversation. Ask what they think is OK for children of different ages – they'll feel involved in the decision-making.
Be aware that your child might talk about friends who use apps or visit sites that you've decided aren't suitable. Be ready to discuss your reasons, but recognise that they may not agree with you. Listen carefully for the reasons why.
Go through a final list of sites you both agree are OK, and work out when you'll next discuss it.
Create a family agreement

10. Talking about difficult topics
Ask about things they might see online which make them feel uncomfortable
Talk about things they, or their friends, have seen that made them feel uncomfortable:
Be specific. What exactly made them feel uncomfortable and why? Is it people or animals being hurt? Nasty comments about others?
Link these to things in the real world, and explain that you're always here to protect and help them online and off.
Reassure your child that they can always talk to you about anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
Show them how to report or block on the sites and apps they use. Use Net Aware to find out how.
Tell them you'll help them to report anything upsetting they've seen, or to deal with online bullying.

11. Talk Explore Agree Manage TEAM Talk about staying safe online
Explore their online world together
Agree rules about what’s ok and what’s not
Manage your family’s settings and controls