The Internet can be an amazing place, full of information, entertainment and a place to communicate with people. It allows us to play, learn, create and connect.
However, using the Internet also poses many risks such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, fake news and online predators. At Lochinver House, we regularly educate our students about the risks and we feel it is important for parents to know what we are doing in school so that this can be mirrored at home. It is important to talk to your children about their internet use; what are they playing, whom are they talking to and what are they sharing about themselves? Here are some helpful links, which you can use to protect your children and monitor their activities:
UK Safer Internet Centre This organisation provides lots of tips, advice, guides and resources to keep your child safe online, such as:
- How to set up parental controls offered by a range of home internet providers
- Guides to technology
- Safety tools on social networks and other online services
- How to start conversations with your child
CEOP is the Child Exploitation and Online Protection command and they have a website for parents and children with lots of information about things that can go wrong when using the internet and how to report it. A case of serious cyberbullying can be reported here.
Internet Matters is a website created in partnership with BT, Sky, Talk Talk, Virgin Media and the BBC. In this website, you can find lots of expert support and practical tips to safely help children benefit from connected technology and the internet.
Childnet International is an organisation whose aim is to make the internet a great and safe place for children. On their website, they have a parents and carers toolkit and online safety activities you can do at home. Parent sessions are also available to book online.
Netaware is a brilliant site collaborating with the NSPCC and O2 to help you to keep children safe online. Netaware provides advice and reviews on social networks, apps and games that your children may use or want to use. This is a go to site if your child asks for an app you have not heard of.
