Keeping Children Safe Online

With the prospect of schools across Wales remaining closed for a significant period of time, the likelihood of children spending a considerable amount of time researching, gaming or communicating online will increase. The priority for all parents and teachers is to keep children safe online, prevent harm and safeguard at all times. People may choose to exploit the most vulnerable within our communities because they understand during these challenging times children will be online more than usual. Please consider the following when you or your child is online.

Children should;

• Know who they are talking to
• Check if they can access material, play games
• Protect their online reputation
• Only open messages from sources they trust
• Do not give out personal information
• Do not share images, video of inappropriate material
• Speak to someone if they feel uncomfortable
• Understand not everything online is true
• Block and report people who are trolling
• Do not give into pressure
• Think before they post
• Keep safe online

Parents should;

• Monitor who their child is communicating with online
• Monitor the content and material accessed or downloaded
• Check content is appropriate
• Set boundaries and parental controls
• Discuss their online activity
• Manage / check privacy settings
• Know where to find help

Parentzone

For the forthcoming financial year the Cardiff Prevent Team are working in partnership with Parentzone on online safety company. Parentzone have made their online resources free for all parents & carers for the next three months, they are available here:-

https://parentzone.org.uk/parents 

Other useful resources:-

There are a number of other useful websites that can support parents & carers with online safety at this difficult time.

www.childnet.com

www.cyberaware.gov.uk/

www.getsafeonline.org

www.nspcc.org.uk/

www.saferinternet.org.uk/