Does your child use:

1. A mobile phone
2. The internet
3. Social networking sites (such as Facebook, Youtube, Bebo or Twitter)
4. Skype or other instant messaging services 
5. Gaming with chat feature

If the answer is yes, then your child is potentially at risk.

As parents and carers, our natural desire is to keep our children safe. From learning to cross the road, ride a bike or swim, parents have to teach, guide and support their children – the online world is no different. The best ways to defend against online risks are openness, awareness and education. Talk to your children about their online lives, share their experiences and learn from them, help them to use technology positively and responsibly and give them boundaries, guidance and support.

Below is a link to some free online expert advice specifically for parents on supporting their child in the digital world. They offer ideas on a range of ideas for staying safe online:

http://parentinfo.org/

Other links that you may find useful are:

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/

https://www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk/

https://swgfl.org.uk/

ChildLine 

ChildLine 08001111: get help and advice about a wide range of issues, talk to a counsellor online, send ChildLine and email or post on the message boards on the link below:

https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/contacting-childline/

Setting up filters on home internet:

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers/parental-controls-offered-your-home-internet-provider

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/ 

https://www.net-aware.org.uk/

PEGI

https://pegi.info/page/pegi-age-ratings

 

http://www.connectsafely.org/guides-2/