Online Safety Information for Parents
Online Safety Information
Parents may find this link to a site called Parent Info by CEOP and Parent Zone, helpful. The article is a condensed summary of things every parent should know about the most widely used apps and social media sites.
http://parentinfo.org/article/the-6-apps-and-services-that-every-parent-should-know-about
Year 4 online safety jingle
A MUST READ FOR PARENTS
Online Safety Information for Parents
The best form of Online Safety begins at home with you, the parent. The following tips will help you to help your child keep safe on the Internet.
Ask Questions
The best way to know what your child is doing online is to ask. Whether you ask other parents, an Internet-savvy friend, or your child about how they use the Internet - asking the right questions will help you understand what your child is doing online so you can make sure they are making safe online choices.
Questions to ask your child:
- What sites do you visit?
- What do you do on those sites?
- Why do you go to that site?
- How much time do you spend on the site?
- Did you have to register?
- What information did they ask for?
- What information did you give?
Spend time surfing the Web with your child. This is a great way to learn about what types of interactions your child is having online, and with whom.
Communicate
Once you have an idea of how your child uses the Internet and what is available to them, you can establish online guidelines and rules. Whether it is setting guidelines about which sites to visit or what is okay to do online, it is essential to clearly communicate the rules to your child.
Speak often to your child about potential risks and what to do in various situations. Encourage your child to ask questions about situations they run into. Being aware of the risks your child faces, and communicating frequently with your child about these risks, will help develop their judgment and responsibility about Internet usage.
Safety Rules
While the Internet offers amazing opportunities for entertainment, education, connectivity, and more, anyone who goes online should understand basic Online Safety. Teaching these basics to your children is essential.
- When asked by friends or strangers, online or offline, never share Account IDs and Passwords.
- Don't reveal any personal identity information in your Screen Names, such as your full name, birthday, hobbies, hometown or school.
- In any information exchange, like e-mail or chat, never give any personal information about yourself or someone else.
- Don't share photos of yourself, your family, or your home with people you meet online.
- Never open e-mails that come from unknown sources - DELETE them.
- If you receive mean or threatening comments online, don't respond. Log off and report the activity to your parents.
- Nothing you write on the Web is completely private. Be careful what you write and to whom.
- Never make plans to meet an online "friend" in person.
- WHEN IN DOUBT: Always ask your parents for help. If you're not sure, log off.
Bullies (Cyber Bullying)
Just as a child may encounter bullying or aggressive behavior from other students in school, they may be subject to bullying online. So-called "cyber bullies" may send harmful and cruel words or images through the Internet or an electronic device such as a cell phone, in order to harass, embarrass, humiliate, and threaten their target. Other forms of bullying include password hacking, identity theft and blackmail. Many children may be equally likely to become bullies or victims. While some are anonymous, cyber bullies are often kids who are known by a child from their school, camp, community group, or neighborhood.
It is important to talk openly with children about how to handle cyber bullying issues. If your child encounters a form of cyber bullying, remember that bullies thrive on the reactions of their targets. Children should avoid escalating the situation by refraining from responding to the bully. Parents should contact your local authorities if the problem persists. Be sure to save all messages, including dates and time.
Resources
Children as young as two are interacting with the Internet from their parents' laps. As they get older, however, they may begin to venture online by themselves, with as much support and guidance as you can provide. It is up to parents to decide which controls to put in place and when to ease up as children grow and mature in their decision-making. Here are some resources that you can use to shape your child's Internet usage:
- Many sites have guides for parents. Take a look to make sure that you understand how the sites your child visits approach safety.
- Some sites offer parental controls. Take advantage of parental controls to determine what your child has access to.
- Most browsers have settings that can block Web sites or entire domains. Use these controls to pre-select Web sites children can or cannot visit.
- Research software available that can monitor children's Internet use.
- Review the privacy policies of your child's favorite sites to be aware of what kind of information is being collected about your child, and how it is being used.
Becta leads the national drive to improve learning through technology. They work to support the education workforce to make the best use of technology to improve learning so that every learner in the UK is able to benefit from the advantages technology brings, thereby helping them achieve the best they can. This site has a wealth of information about all aspects of ICT. Type ‘e-safety’ into the search box at the top right of the screen for more information.
CEOP are the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. There is information about what they do as well as links to their resources for use in secondary schools. Primary school resources are due in September 2007.
Read Tanya Byron’s independent review looking at the risks to children from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games.
www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/ict/safety.htm
This is Kent’s e-Safety site. They have generously made all of their e-Safety materials available to other schools and LAs as long as we reference them.
clusterweb.org.uk/cs/community/esafety/default.aspx
This is an e-Safety blog (web log or diary) written by Rebecca Chapman who is the e-Safety officer in Kent. This is a good source of up-to-date information in the area of e-Safety.
www.clusterweb.org.uk/kcn/e-safety_home.cfm
The Kent-Clusterweb e-Safety site has some good links and resources.
www.lgfl.net/lgfl/sections/safety/esafety/menu/
The London Grid for Learning e-Safety site has some good links and resources.
The Internet Watch Foundation is where illegal content can be reported.
www.nch.org.uk/information/index.php?i=209
Information on e-Safety from NCH The Children’s Charity.
www.novemberlearning.com/resources/information-literacy-resources
In a world of information overload, it is vital for students to not only find information but also determine its validity and appropriateness. Our information literacy material demystifies the process of finding and validating online information.
Sites for using with children
www.bbc.co.uk/chatguide/children/index.shtml
The BBC ChatGuide, with presenter Barney Harwood, is a good way of discussing e-Safety with primary children. There are other fun resources on this page too.
www.bbc.co.uk/chatguide/teens/index.shtml
The BBC ChatGuide for teenagers. This site has demonstrations of the types of internet activity that teenage children engage in. There are tips for keeping safe.
www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/help/safesurfing
Help Dongle the rabbit learn to be safe on the web. Watch the cartoon, try the quiz and play a game.
Think U Know is the powerful resource from CEOP. It now has resources to use with primary children.
www.childnet-int.org/kia/schools
Know IT All for Schools is a useful resource for teaching secondary aged pupils about being safe online. Clicking on home will take you to the Childnet International site.
www.childnet-int.org/kia/primary/smartadventure/default.aspx
The SMART Adventure illustrates Childnet’s SMART rules and includes a real life SMART Crew of young people who guide the cartoon characters in their quest and help them make smart online decisions.
Chat Danger is also from Childnet International. It is appropriate for KS2 and 3 pupils and covers how to be safe when using interactive services online.
www.kidsmart.org.uk/default.aspx
Kidsmart has advice for children under/over 11 as well as games. The SMART rules are useful to help young people remember how to stay safe. It is also from Childnet International.
The Internet Safety Zone has sections for parents and for children over and under the age of 13. The content and presentation of the site for over 13 years is good.
www.windowsonwarwickshire.org.uk
Explore the interactive web site to learn about Warwickshire's fascinating heritage, culture and personalities.
Safe searching - images
These are sites which are ‘safe’ to use when searching for images.
Photographs on a safe site from the US.
Images and videos of life on Earth.
www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk/static/cs/uk/11/clipart/home.html
Clip art from Dorling Kindersley.
office.microsoft.com/en-gb/default.aspx
Microsoft clip art and other images.
Safe searching - information
These are sites which are ‘safe’ to use when searching for information.
Yahooligans is American but has a child focus which makes it useful. Typing in a search gives a list of 10 useful websites from reliable sources.
Ask Jeeves for Kids is also American but as with Yahooligans, has a child focus. Typing in a search word takes the children to articles from reliable sources.
Sites for Parents
Think U Know has a section with advice for parents which is particularly useful for explaining terminology. Register to receive the ‘Purely for Parents’ monthly email.
www.parentscentre.gov.uk/usingcomputersandtheinternet
The Parents Centre is a good resource for parents to find out more about the internet and computers in general.
www.childnet-int.org/kia/parents
Know IT All for Parents is a useful CD which parents can use with their children to make sure that they get the most out of the internet. There is some sample content available on this site. Clicking on home will take you to the Childnet International site.
www.bbc.co.uk/chatguide/parents/index.shtml
There is a document supporting the BBC ChatGuide which is designed for parents.
There is also lots of other helpful advice and practical ideas for internet safety at home.
Read Tanya Byron’s independent review looking at the risks to children from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games.
Get Safe Online provides information and advice on using the internet safely at home.
The Internet Safety Zone is designed to be used by parents and their children. It allows them to discuss internet related topics as a way of ensuring a family’s ‘cyberwellness’. It has some particularly good information about e-Safety for children over the age of 13.
Ofcom have great advice for setting parental controls on mobile phones and digital television boxes.
Watch Panorama’s investigation into how paedophiles are using the internet, and social networking sites in particular, as a means of grooming unsuspecting youngsters for sex. ‘One Click From Danger’.
This site contains thousands of definitions about computers, the Internet, and the online world of business, technology & communication.
CyberSentinel protects your children from the dangers of the internet and gives them the freedom to thrive online by supervising what they do - even when you're not around.
www.novemberlearning.com/resources/information-literacy-resources
In a world of information overload, it is vital for students to not only find information but also determine its validity and appropriateness. Our information literacy material demystifies the process of finding and validating online information.
Find out what is new on GetNetWise! The Spotlight section features information about the latest issues and concerns facing Internet users and illustrates helpful safety techniques with step-by-step video tutorials.
Useful documents or links for parents
Lets create a love for reading, click on the image above for quick access to the Oxford Owl website where you can get lots of useful tips! Also check out the links below for other reading inspiration. Please take a look at the recommended books for each year group.
- Binley Woods Primary School,
- Coombe Drive, Binley Woods, Coventry,
- Warwickshire, CV3 2QU
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