e-Safety

• It is not easy for parents to keep up with what’s going on in the world of technology.With a huge increase in device ownership and use of online services, it is important to ensure that you and your children are safe when enjoying the potential of technology.
• E-safety doesn’t just happen. It needs awareness of the possible threats that online activity can bring, and how to deal with them

1. Learn your way around

• Most devices have controls to ensure that kids can’t access content you don’t want them to. Make sure your “in-app” purchases are disabled to avoid nasty surprises. 
• Check out the Parent's Technology Guide at the UK Safer Internet Centre for more help.

Link: https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers/parents-guide-technology
 

2. E-Safety on Tablets

• Tablets are really popular with younger children, and the market has several which are geared specifically towards delivering child friendly content.When it comes to using tablets: Start slowly: Only download games and apps you have checked out carefully
• Steer them towards age targeted content such as iPlayer Kids:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/features/iplayer-kids  or You Tube Kids: https://www.youtube.com/kids/

Link for more advice: https://www.net-aware.org.uk/
Link for more advice: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

3. Older Children & E-Safety on Mobile Phones/Smartphones

• The focus with older children may shift from tablets to smaller and more portable mobile devices: phones. To set up controls around usage you can use tools like: ‘Google Family Link’ for Android Devices:  https://families.google.com/familylink/ or
• ‘Screen Time’ for Apple IOS Devices:  https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201304

Remember it is easily as important to talk to your children about what they should & should not be doing.

4. Social Media Platforms

“YouTube is a firm favourite. Children between five and 15 are more likely to use YouTube than other on-demand services such as Netflix, or TV channels including the BBC and ITV. WhatsApp has also grown to join Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram as one of the top social media platforms used by children.”

Social Media Checklists for Parents

• SWGfL have produced super checklists to help parents understand more about various platforms including:
  • Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Roblox and TikTok
• The checklists include:
  • what information they use,
  • how to set privacy settings: they’re a parent’s social media survival guide!

Click here to go to SWGfL Social Media Checklists Page: https://swgfl.org.uk/resources/checklists/

5. Screen Time

• Agree a time limit or number of games beforehand, to avoid repeated disagreements around how long they can spend online.
• ‘Young People and Screentime – A Good Start’ guide available, which provides some tips and checklists to help parents and carers get kids off to a good start using digital devices.

Link to the Guide: https://swgfl.org.uk/resources/young-people-and-screentime-a-good-start/

6. Sleep Comes First

• We recommend the phone stays out of the bedroom to avoid night time interruptions, A period of time before bed without phone or tablet use is beneficial too.
• Blue light emitted from LCD screens has been shown to disrupt sleep by interfering with our natural body rhythms, blocking our bodies from creating a sleep hormone called melatonin.

7. Request Access

• Parents care more about their children’s health and wellbeing than anyone else.
• That means you need to guide them in the virtual world as well as the real world. If you’re genuinely concerned about them, ask them to allow you access to the phone.

8. Monitoring vs Having a Conversation

• It is possible to install software onto devices that monitors online activity, alerts you to inappropriate behaviour, and can block access to certain content. This kind of software is becoming increasingly popular, but while this might sound tempting, it might pose a number o1f issues around your child’s right to privacy, and could have an impact upon your relationship with them. 
• SWGfL have produced an interesting article called: 'Parenting through technology'

Click the link here to access it: https://swgfl.org.uk/magazine/i-spy/

• Talk to your children regularly and openly about behaviour and risk is important, so that they know they can come to you if something goes wrong. 
• SWGfL have produced an article called ‘It’s good to talk’ that covers this:

Click here to access it: https://swgfl.org.uk/magazine/parenting-in-a-digital-age-it-s-good-to-talk/

9. Whole Home Approach

• Consider setting parental controls on your Wi-Fi.
• You can block access to inappropriate or adult content, and set time limits which may help rein in those excessive Minecraft sessions.

The UK Safer Internet Centre has produced a guide to help called 'Parental controls offered by your home internet provider' 

Here is a link to that guide: https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers/parental-controls-offered-your-home-internet-provider

10. Gaming

“Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Switch or Sony PlayStation: there is something for everyone, and every age. Consider whether your child is mature enough to join an online community, and whether the games they are playing are appropriate.”

• A link to help you make informed decisions about online games. Here is the link: https://pegi.info/
• ‘The real cost of online gaming' gives an insight into the type of things to be aware of when it comes to gaming.

Here is the link: https://swgfl.org.uk/magazine/money-for-nothing-the-cost-of-online-gaming/

• A link to help you look at tools that manage screen time and in-game purchases on video game consoles. 

Here is the link: https://www.askaboutgames.com/

• There is also some guidance for specific platforms.

Here is the link for:

• Playstation: https://swgfl.org.uk/magazine/staying-safe-on-playstation-5-in-5/
• XBox: https://swgfl.org.uk/magazine/staying-safe-on-xbox-5-in-5/

Making the most of it - What to do at home!

Courtesy of SWGfL

So you’re now spending more time at home – you’re thinking . . . brilliant! Get the pyjamas on, fill up a bowl of chocolate and settle in for a well needed movie marathon. Did I just read your mind?

Ever thought ‘I’ve always wanted to do this, but never had the time?’ Well now . . . you can! Just because you’re stuck indoors doesn’t mean you can’t live your life to the fullest! We have put together a few ideas to make the most of your days in: