On-line Safety while Remote Learning
With schools being required to close for most pupils across the nation, we recognise that this will place the extra burden of teaching and safeguarding of children onto you and others at home. For those families with access to the internet, the online world will provide a rich variety of opportunities to support children and young people’s ongoing education and wellbeing. However, the online world comes with its own risks and safeguarding challenges. We hope that the following key online safety information will be helpful.
SCREEN TIME
Consider the amount of time that children are sitting down accessing online activities and help them plan their days to include non-digital activities such as time outside, exercise, and creativity. Keeping a diary of daily learning in all its forms and including the skills they are using will be useful for their wellbeing and sense of achievement.
https://www.childnet.com/ufiles/Young-children-and-screen-time---a-guide-for-parents-and-carers.pdf
SETTING UP PARENTAL CONTROLS AND PRIVACY SETTINGS
Parental controls can help you control the content your child can see or experience online. Internet matters offer a suite of straightforward step by step guides to help set up the right controls and privacy settings on different networks, devices, apps and sites. This site can be accessed here:
https://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/
REGULAR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONLINE SAFETY
Parental controls and privacy settings are useful tools to help minimise the risks children may face but they can never be totally effective. Always encourage your child to come and talk to you if they find anything that upsets them online. The NSPCC and O2 Net Aware have published a useful guide on starting a conversation about online safety. Visit the website for further information:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/talking-child-online-safety/
A BALANCED DIET ONLINE!
Encourage children to have a good digital diet which includes a balance of being connected to others, seeking ideas for active and creative activities, focusing on how they can give to others and being mindful. The digital 5 a day: A guide for children and young people can be accessed here:
https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/our-work/digital/5-a-day/
THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD SLEEP
Try to ensure children have at least an hours break from looking at a screen before bedtime and that mobile devices stay out of bedrooms at night. Ensuring efficient physical activity during the day will also aid a good night’s sleep. It is recommended by Public Health England (PHE) that children have at least an hour’s rigorous activity per day. You may wish to consider maintaining the ‘Daily Mile’ as a family while maintaining your distance from others who may also be outdoors.
KEEPING PERSONAL INFORMATION SAFE
Remind young children not to share personal information such as name and contact details with others online.
HELP CHILDREN THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT ONLINE CONTENT
Remind children that not everything we read or see on the web is true and not everyone online tells the truth.
KNOW WHO THEY ARE TALKING TO ONLINE
Think about their social media and gaming. Regularly ask children who they are talking to online and ensure that they are only speaking with people they know in the real world. Ensure that children understand that if anyone they don’t know makes contact with them then they must come to tell you. It is important they know you will help them block that contact.
Other useful websites include:
www.swgfl.org.uk/resources/checklists
This is also an important time to do things together as a family that are not technology related such as:
- A visit to the local park. The National Trust may be opening many of its parks and gardens for free to encourage everyone to enjoy open spaces whilst adhering to the government’s social distancing guidance.
- Starting a family group read with a favourite book, taking it in turns to read to each other
- Listening to a range of different music or singing together
- Healthy cooking projects
- Having a family jigsaw on the go and playing board games
- The ‘Change for Life Activities’ website has lots of further suggestions https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/activities
If the news on the virus is making your child feel anxious or stressed the links below focusing on how we can all look after our mental and emotional wellbeing at this time may be useful:
https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/what-to-do-if-you-re-anxious-about-coronavirus/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html