The internet can be an amazing place, but some of its risks are hidden in plain sight. You want kids to be able to explore and discover new ideas, but there will always be risks with letting them wander—both online and in real life. Help them understand how to think about and manage risks, so they can enjoy the rewards of thoughtful exploration.
Just as you continue to give your child tools to navigate the world outside of your home, kids need fundamental tools to be safe online. Conversations about digital safety can be paired with key moments as your kid has more opportunities to explore online, both supervised and unsupervised.
While we know that great things can happen online, kids need to be prepared to make smart choices that will help them navigate it safely. Just as you would talk to them about wearing a helmet when they ride a bike to avoid hurting their head, discuss the risks that come with a connected world and how they can protect themselves.
Discuss risky situations they may encounter online
The nuances of what may signal a risky situation won’t be communicated in one sitting. Proactive efforts to teach kids to recognize red flags (and even yellow flags) can help build up tools to safeguard them as they interact online more and more.
Now that you have access to our family device, it is important for us to talk about staying safe online.
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Digital Safety: The Fundamentals
Just like you teach kids how to use basic safety skills before riding a bike, they need to learn digital safety basics before they operate devices — whether shared or one of their own.
Just like you teach kids how to use basic safety skills before riding a bike, they need to learn digital safety basics before they operate devices — whether shared or one of their own.
Just like you teach kids how to use basic safety skills before riding a bike, they need to learn digital safety basics before they operate devices — whether shared or one of their own.
Do you share things with people you don’t know that you wouldn’t share with me?
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Digging Into Digital Privacy
As kids spend more time online it’s important to introduce the difference between real life and what is shared on social media, as well as what is and isn’t appropriate to share online.
As your child gains more access to the internet and begins to get more freedom in device use, there will be new opportunities to discuss safety measures. If your child does encounter online threats, make sure they know they can always come to you for support.
Additional Resources
From simple tips to complex explorations, we’ve gathered a range of information, videos, and articles designed to help you keep exploring these topics.
Article
Good Digital Parenting
Source: Family Online Safety Institute
The Family Online Safety Institute's Good Digital Parenting resources provide parents and caregivers with the tools they need to confidently navigate the online world with their families.
Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Smartphones are essentially little computers, so you might be a little worried when handing one over to your child. Take some time to understand the risks and implement a few safeguards so that you can help your child use smartphones safely.
Parents and carers play an important role in helping children to develop digital intelligence — the social, emotional and practical skills needed to successfully navigate the digital world.
There are many risks children and young people might face online, but there are various ways being online can benefit autistic children. So rather than advising parents to prevent their children from going online, check out these various tips on staying safe.
Children at this stage begin taking games more seriously and experience deeper relationships with their peers. They also begin to seek privacy and often test parental limits.
During this age range, children become more sensitive to social judgement. Peer acceptance and belonging holds greater influence over how they see themselves and their behavior.
Childnet have a dedicated area to support parents and carers with information on key online safety topics, advice and activities to share with your child.
Source: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Sometimes you might be worried about what your child is doing online or who they're speaking to, but not know how to talk to them about it. We've got advice to help.
A series of videos produced by Amaze and Melissa Pintor Carnagey, a licensed social worker, sexuality educator, and a parent of three. The #AskableParent Guide to Porn is meant to help you take the awkwardness out of talking with your kids about online porn.
For safety, it is important to identify reliable and safe sites to prevent identity theft or unsafe interactions online. We need to be able to go to a site and assess the tone and know right away that something isn’t right, that we are about to be scammed.
You might think that you have to be an adult to be an identity theft victim, but that’s not the case. Children are also at risk. Learn tips and tricks on how to protect their identity.
