1. AWARENESS RAISING SESSION FOR
PARENTS AND CARERS
Growing up online
Welcome.
With advances in technology changing so rapidly we wanted an opportunity to talk to you about ways you can help keep your children safe when they are using the internet at home. The internet is a fantastic resource but as devices are becoming more mobile so is the internet. It is only natural as your children grow up they take their new found independence online. With all the potential that the online world and new technology offer, young people now have access to huge opportunities. They use technology to express themselves, explore and be creative; it has changed the way they communicate.
The internet has changed all of our lives and your child has grown up during this change. Many of the things that confuse, baffle or even scare us, are part of everyday life for them. For many of us, this can be a bit too much.
Whether you love or hate technology the chances are you will be playing catch up with your child when it comes to using the internet. Do you ask yourself if what they are doing is safe and how you can be as good a parent online as you are offline.
Hopefully this session will answer any concerns you may have – and maybe some you hadn’t thought of!

2. Concerns parents have? What brings you here today?
Which sites are your children using?
Discuss with the audience their reasons for attending the session and start to talk about the types of technologies and sites they know their children are using.
Make a list of devices with internet access.
Whilst there are many advantages of devices becoming more mobile this also allows children to access the internet sometimes without supervision. Many children have access to the internet in their bedrooms so it’s really important that they know how to keep themselves safe. In school they are taught to follow the S.M.A.R.T. rules. A copy of these are in the packs to take home. But what else can you do at home?
Make sure the parental control settings on all devices children have access to are activated. Most Internet providers give details of parental controls available to you such as blocking certain sites.
Talk to your child about which sites they like using.
Discuss with them about keeping their identity a secret and about what information they share.
Make sure they understand that online friends should stay online.
Which devices does your child use
that has Internet access?

3. Internet and Mobile Security Online Grooming
Cyber bullying
Downloading and Copyright
As Parents and Staff there are many issues that we face when educating our children about using the internet safely.
These are just a few of the key issues – there are a lot more besides these.
Cyber Bullying – According to the anti bullying charity Beatbullying around 1 in 3 of our young people have been cyberbullied. Whether that’s through text messages, using images, chat rooms, social networking, gaming or whatever.
Downloading and Copyright – recent research by Ofcom has revealed that two fifths of believe that file sharing should be made legal. We have a responsibility to help our children – even at this age – understand ownership and the law.
Inappropriate and Harmful content – whether they are deliberately searching for it or come across it by accident, children are at risk from viewing content that is inappropriate to their age, be it offensive, pornographic or violent. Whilst we can filter and block most of the more upfront sites we have to teach children how to deal with material that may get through even the strictest of filters.
Internet and Mobile Security – computer virus are a real pain and can cause problems from slowing your computer down to enabling others to access your files without your knowledge. It also puts your passwords at risk and therefore could compromise your financial status. Children need to be aware of these things and how they can avoid them.
Online Grooming – sadly there are people operating online who do seek to do harm to children. We need to educate children, in a sensitive way, that everything they see online may not be true in reality. People are not always who they say they are, people do not always live up to the claims and promises that they make. What do our children need to look out for and what do they do if they are worried?
Misleading Content – Check, check and check again
Inappropriate and Harmful Content
Misleading Content

4. A CHANGING WORLD

5. Learning Online? Computer skills Confidence Research Creativity
Communication skills
Money management
Computer skills
Confidence
Using the Internet is very much a part of your child’s everyday life. Whether they use it for communicating, developing their computer skills, being creative, for research, developing self-confidence or learning about money management the most important thing is that they do it safely.
Research
Creativity

6. Websites your children may be using
Can you name the sites your children uses for:
Socialising
Gaming
From socialising to searching children are up to a range of activities online.
It’s important that you talk openly about safe internet use with your children so if they do come across anything that makes them feel uncomfortable they come and tell you without fear of getting into trouble. Children are naturally curious and sometimes this may mean they open a site without realising that it is unsuitable. Sometimes unsuitable material can get past parental filters especially when using search engines and websites like Google images and You Tube.
Talking to people
Sharing
Searching

7. SOCIAL NETWORKS
An area of potential concern, especially with younger children, is the use of social networks. Whilst your children are too young to have their own Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or Instagram accounts it is worth highlighting some of the areas you need to be aware of. If children have had a Facebook set up for them other users will assume that they are at least that age. That means if the account was set up when the child was 9 when they are 13 other users will assume (from the given date of birth) that they are 18. This could mean that they are exposed to unsuitable material.
Children need to be aware of the dangers of uploading images – once they are on the web they stay there! Anyone else can then download and use them. This can also be done quite unintentionally by family members too. Be careful – never include names, especially surnames and check your privacy settings so that only people you really know can access/see your pictures. Remember though there is nothing to stop them downloading a picture from your profile and uploading it to theirs and they might not be as careful as you are with their privacy settings.
Once again children and young people need to think very carefully about what they share and who they share it with. Once they decide to share something it is virtually impossible to ‘unshare’ it. Talk about it at home – they wouldn’t put a poster up outside their house with their personal details on saying ‘I live here!’

8. SITES USED FOR INSTANT MESSENGING
Blackberry messenger, WhatsApp and Skype all allow users to send messages, audio files, photos, video and a current location to people on their contact list. Children and young people are more likely to take risks and share private information such as photos in a private space. If young children grow up understanding the rules and the dangers we would hope that they are less likely to take risks and put themselves in danger.

9. BLOGGING AND CHAT ROOMS
Tumblr and Ask.fm are two examples of popular blogging and chat websites. Some of these sites allow people to post anonymously which can cause cyberbullying issues. Encourage children to talk to people online in the same way that they would talk to someone face to face. Discuss with them at home how easy it is for the written word to be misunderstood as you can’t hear the inflection in someone's voice or the see the body language. Cyberbullying can be very distressing. Make sure that your child knows to tell someone if they think they are being bullied online, even if they are embarrassed or scared.

10. ONLINE GAMING
One of the most popular ways that children kill time is to play on their games consoles and gaming online can be great fun. Put your hand up if you have a games console in your home? Keep it up if it links to the internet? The majority of these do which means your child can link to other users and talk and play against them.
Ask: Can you name any gaming sites that your child uses?
But you need to be aware that some sites are not suitable for young children. Even if they have an adult content warning there is nothing to stop a child accessing that site if you have not put parental guards in place. Make sure that if your child does play online they use a nickname to protect their identity and make sure your children are aware that they should not share personal information with anyone they meet online. They are taught this in school but backing this up at home reinforces the rule. Remind them that online friends should stay online.
As you will know gaming is very different to how it used to be. Forget Pacman and think MMORPG – or ‘Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game’, in short these sites can have thousands of users and the game never ends. Many gaming sites allow you to play and communicate against other users all over the world. This is perfectly safe as long as you don’t give online friends any personal information.

11. MOBILE PHONES
Aren’t they great! How did we ever live without them! But with phones becoming increasingly ‘smart’ you need to think of them as mini computers and make sure that any phone that your child is using has safety measures put in place. Phones are no longer just for making telephone calls – in fact you may hardly ever call anyone on it! The majority of phones are fitted with a GPS which is great when you’re lost and you can pinpoint your location on Google maps. However, some sites also ask to use your current location – do you want it known to the world in general where your child is? Make sure you check privacy settings and as your children get older make sure that they know how to do this too.
Mobile internet also means that your child can be accessing sites where ever they may be – and not always under supervision. Most phones can also be set up with parental controls. Be careful with passwords – make sure it is one that you haven’t shared with your children.

12. APPS Do you know your child’s favourite apps?
Does your child use your phone?
Are your apps age appropriate?
There are Apps for just about everything, but not all are suitable for young children. Does your child have a favourite App? (Discuss) Does your child use your phone? Are all your Apps age appropriate (don’t ask!)?
Discuss at home which Apps your children like using and talk about whether they are age appropriate, if there is a cost (some start off free but then you have to purchase additional levels etc), do they link to other services and if so what information are they sharing on them.

13. WHAT WE DO IN SCHOOL KEY STAGE 1 KEY STAGE 2
In KS1 we use Hectors World which is part of the CEOP (Children’s Exploitation and Online Protection Service). Children follow a six week unit of work learning about various aspects of E-safety. Each week the children take home a booklet to read and colour in at home. This is followed up in KS2 with specific e-safety lessons during e-safety week using resources from the CEOP site, including video clips and activities. Children are also reminded of the SMART rules when they are using the internet and these are also displayed in the classrooms next to the computers.
KEY STAGE 2

14. AND FINALLY... ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR COMING!
We hope that you’ve found this afternoon/evening useful.
Are there any questions? If you think of something later or have any concerns at anytime please don’t hesitate to talk to us. Please take home an information pack which has information on websites that you may find useful.
Zoe Hilton (CEOP): : "There are a few simple steps that parents can take and some signs to look out for but vigilance and keeping the lines of communications open is the key."
Thank you for coming.
THANK YOU FOR COMING!