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Keeping your children safe: online & beyond
This page is for parents - if you are a teacher, click here
It's never easy to know how to keep our children safe when they aren't with us, and sometimes even when they are, if we don't know what's happening in their lives or on their devices! Who are they talking to, what are they doing, are they okay? Don't despair though...scroll through this page for help or click a button to go straight to a particular topics.
TOP TIPS FOR PARENTS RIGHT NOW!
TOP TIPS FOR PARENTS RIGHT NOW!
Gen AI: The Harms Landscape - find out the harms children and young people are being exposed to online with new generative AI (gen AI) tools which are everywhere! If you think 'my child wouldn't see these things', think again!
Toxic online content: Asking your child about what they see online can help build key life skills and support their wellbeing. Find the right questions to talk about in this guide from the Gov.UK Kids Online Safety Campaign
Nudufy apps and chatbots: how might these impact young people and friendships?!? This video from WeProtect has dramatised scenarios from real-life stories - worth watching a chapter even if you only have two minutes.
Online sexual harrassment: We think all parents (not just of girls) may want to consider this message from Childnet. What might your children want to tell you but not know how? More for parents here.
Sharing nudes: This campaign from the Internet Watch Foundation raises awareness of how 11-13 year old girls are at risk of being tricked or forced into taking nude images in their own bedrooms. Parent site & Girls site
'Sextortion' as it's commonly known, with gangs targeting teenagers (mainly boys) for financial gain. Find guidance from CEOP to help talk to your child.
Gen AI Tools: Learn about the different generative AI tools like ChatGPT and My AI to help support learning, creativity and even bedtime at home.
Online Tutors: The lack of checks on tutors and serious cases in the news remind us that you should follow this guidance to stay safe when hiring a tutor.
Top Tips Poster: Why not think use this simple top tips poster to think about easy ways to keep your children safe online.
SAFE SETTINGS, CONTROLS & MONITORING
SAFE SETTINGS, CONTROLS & MONITORING
Apple, Android and Microsoft have tools to help you control what younger children can use and how long for. Click the images below for details. Once they are older and have your trust, the same tools can help avoid arguments and help them learn to self-regulate (how long have they really been on insta today? have they put down the phone at all in the last week?).
Great for both parental controls and teen self-regulation
Digital Wellbeing is the next step for the older ones after Family Link
There are no self-regulation features for older teens, but Family Safety is great for the younger ones
Internet Matters is an amazing one-stop shop for easy-to-understand, step-by-step parent guides to the parental controls on an array of?
From YouTube Kids for the youngest children, to the supervised options for pre-teens, explore the options here.
Monitoring: there are some monitoring tools, which send parents text and pictures their children and young people send or receive, but here are two less intrusive ones which offer support to the young person or only tell parents about general risk levels, trends and worrying changes.
No alerts to parents but instant support to the young person if they send or receive something worrying
This app works in the same way and also sends a general risk score to parents so they know when a conversation is needed (but it is not intrusive so no screenshots or text)
WHAT'S THAT APP ANYWAY?
WHAT'S THAT APP ANYWAY?
What even is Fortnite (or Roblox...or Minecraft...)?
The best way to find out is to get your child to show you how any app or game works, what happens and if it's appropriate. It could be quick, or you might even find you enjoy playing or watching together!
Common Sense Media has thousands of expert reviews of apps, games and even films and what parents and children think about them. Take a look ...and this year, look at their review of the main generative-AI tools too.
TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT LIFE ONLINE
TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT LIFE ONLINE
It can be hard to talk to children and especially teens about their online lives, but it's so important. This is why:
So what can you do?
We recommend a family agreement (example below) to make clear what is allowed...or not, how much time you can spend on devices, and ground rules like no phones at the table or in the bedroom at night-time. Shared expectations will reduce arguments and keep everyone safe & healthy.
Watch the video with Will Ferrell to see why parents need to take part too!
Family agreement - help your children agree on shared expectations for safe and responsible device use.
Thorn have 18 topic-based discussion guides with questions to help start conversations!
Practical tips from the Anti-Bullying Alliance to help your child to be in control and enjoy safe online relationships.
Can you watch this short Will Ferrell clip without laughing...or seeing yourself in it!
For primary pupils, these online safety reading books that cover important issues in an engaging and non-threatening way that may help you have conversations and uncover issues. And they are great fun to read, too!
"SCREENTIME"
"SCREENTIME"
Lots of parents worry about it, but rather than worry about how long your child is online, consider what they are doing and when they are doing it (and the same goes for grown-ups, like in the Will Ferrell video above). Not all time spent online is equal. A video call to a family member or learning a new skill is very different to hours of doom scrolling or passively consuming short-reel content. You can use the control settings near the top of this page to regulate screen time in general and on specific apps, but beyond that we recommend you follow the Children's Commissioner's 'Digital 5 A Day' and help your children to aim for each of the targets in this pie chart.⤵
The UK Chief Medical Officers agree - check out their version of what counts.
TOP TOPICS (porn, bullying, extremism, fake news...)
TOP TOPICS (porn, bullying, extremism, fake news...)
We have selected our top two or three resources to help parents on six key themes, which we think are important to all families. Take a look and see what you think - even if you think it may not apply to you.
SEX & RELATIONSHIPS
SEX & RELATIONSHIPS
This is obviously a massive topic, but to help parents talk to children about the issues, check out the new #AskTheAwkward campaign from NCA-CEOP, with videos and tips on how to have 'that' kind of conversation.
From Thorn, this guidance on puberty and tech (for different age ranges from 4-6 to 13+ and beyond) is well worth a read
Or use these Children's Commissioner info sheets and top tips for having awkard conversations with children
HELP & REPORTING
HELP & REPORTING
You can always speak to your child's school for advice, but there are many other places to go for help.
If you are worried about any child, call the NSPCC helpline. In an emergency, call 999.
There are plenty of specialist helplines too. Visit reporting.lgfl.net to find out how to remove content from social media and where to report bullying, racial hatred, terrorism, sexual abuse and more.
There are also links for children and young people to get help directly, such as Childline or The Mix (for 13-25s).
IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT US!
IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT US!
You should check out these amazing organisations which support parents and are bound to have something useful for you.
We love their...
...newsletter and approach
...app, game & film guides
...guidance and resources
...parental control guides
...passion and expertise
MORE ABOUT LGfL
MORE ABOUT LGfL
This page is for parents - if you are a teacher, click here for resources to deliver to parents and carers to help keep their children safe online.
LGfL SafeguardED is a brand of LGfL - the National Grid for Learning. We provide thousands of schools with: internet connection, web filtering, monitoring, low-cost devices to send home with students, safeguarding guidance, security products, software licences, curriculum support, training, free-school meals checks and much more!
Find out more at lgfl.net
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