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. It can also be a fun way to relax and keep in touch with friends. We are all aware however, of the pitfalls and dangers of the online community. It is important that we are both informed about how best to protect our children and that we also talk regularly with them about their online use and behaviour.

Here are some ideas which will support your primary school child’s safety and well-being online.

• Set up parental controls on your home internet and internet enabled devices that 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 Kids.Net.Au or Google Safe Search for Kids, 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 children.
• 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 eSafety habits with your child.

Here are some helpful links with more guidance for parents –

• Think U Know - https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/
• eSafety Commissioner - https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
• Screen Time Tips – see following