Internet Safety Made by E-cadets

Tips to help keep your child safe online.

Set rules and agree boundaries as a family:

• Set boundaries for how long your child can spend online and what they can do.
• Agree this as a family so that access to devices can be shared fairly.
• Remember there are tools that can help you monitor access and use across all devices.

Talk about online safety and get involved:

• Have conversations about online safety little and often, and build it into other conversations
• Ask questions about what they do online, such as what sites they visit and who they talk to.
• Make the use of the internet a family activity.
• Remember to share these rules with babysitters, childminders and other family members.
• Talk to other parents about internet use, such as what they do and don't allow.

Know who they are talking to:

• Tell your child that strangers can pop up anywhere online: emails, instant messenger, social networking sites or online games.
• Your child may feel they know someone well, even if they've only played a game with them online. So remember to talk to them about what they share with people they've only met online.
• Discuss boundaries and say you'd like to be friends on social networks, initially.
• Understand the games they play.
• Ensure your child knows what to do if someone they don't know contacts them, e.g. ask you for advice.
• Show your child how to report abuse and how to block people on the websites they use.

Check content is age-appropriate:

• Check age ratings of games, online movies and websites. Click the word online to be taken to a website to help you.

Use parental and privacy controls:

• Check the privacy settings on social media and websites.
• Adjust parental controls to suit your child's age and maturity.
• Make sure you always logout of your online accounts.