Whether we like it or not, technology and the Internet are firmly fixed in our children’s lives. Use of the Internet can be a wonderful thing, opening up new worlds and supporting children’s learning and development in many ways, as well as being a fun way to relax and keep in touch with friends. However, we are all aware of the pitfalls and dangers of the online community and we can feel a little clueless as to how best to protect our children. Here are some ideas which will support your primary school child’s safety and well-being online:

• Share good online behaviours with your child.
• Explain how to keep an appropriate digital footprint.
• Set up parental controls on your home broadband and all Internet-enabled devices your child has access to.
• Password-protect all accounts.
• Choose the sites your child has access to on their account.
• Make sure your child is using child-safe search engines, such as Swiggle or KidzSearch and activate ‘safe search’ options on other search engines such as Google and YouTube.
• Switch devices to airplane mode when your child is playing online games. This will prevent them from accidentally making in-app purchases or contacting other players online.
• Pay close attention to the age ratings on games, apps and films to make sure they are suitable for your child. If you would not allow your child to watch a 15 certificate film, you should not let them play a game with the same rating.
• Set your homepage to a child-friendly one.
• Keep all devices your child will use, in a high-traffic communal area in your home, such as the kitchen or living room. Be with your child when they are online and talk about what they are doing.
• Set rules for screen time and stick to them.
• Investigate safe social media sites for kids.
• Sometimes children find themselves bullying or being bullied online (also known as ‘cyberbullying’). Talk to your child about being a good friend online and how our words and actions still hurt even if we can’t see a person’s reaction to them.
• Talk regularly about the importance of online safety and about what your child is getting up to online. You’ll be grateful you did this, especially as your child gets older. Keeping those lines of communication open is a powerful way of letting your child know that you trust them but expect them to be honest.

Research shows that the age at which children are accessing smart devices and the Internet is getting younger and younger. It’s never too soon to start good E-safety habits with your child.

EYFS E-safety rules

• My child can click on the icons or links when I know they are safe.

• My child can use the internet with an adult.

• If my child sees something they don’t like on the screen, they turn off the monitor and inform an adult.

Years 1-6 E-safety rules 

• I can click on the icons or links when I know they are safe.

• I only use the internet with an adult.

• If I see something I don’t like on the screen, I turn off the monitor and tell an adult