Online Safety Advice for Parents

During the current Coronavirus (Covid 19) situation many parents are working from home including home learning with their children. Many children will increase their online activity time during this period due to being at home more, so it is important that families incorporate time to learn about how to keep safe when going online. It is highly likely that online offending will increase during this time, so it is important that children and young people know how to learn, socialise and play online in a safe way.

Below are some top tips on how to help keep your child safe when going online.

• Use parental controls – Adding parental controls will allow you to monitor and limit what your child sees and does online. Visit Internet Matters (below) to access step by step guides on how to set up parental controls.
• Start a conversation about online safety – Show interest and understand what your child likes to do online and who they like to speak too.
• Set time limits – During this period it is important that your child isn’t spending too much time in front of a screen, plan activities that don’t include using an electronic device.
• Set device-free zones – Only allow your child to use their device where you can monitor them, don’t allow them to take their devices to their bedroom.
• Report – Make you and your child aware of where to go to report online crime.