At London Fields, we believe that we all have a role to play in ensuring that children are kept safe whilst using technology. Children have access to an ever-increasing range of technology that links to the internet, including tablets, phones, TVs and games consoles. A large proportion of their exposure to and use of the internet takes part outside of school.

Below you will find a range of useful resources and links to advice which can help you to keep your child safe in the digital world. 

• Don’t be afraid to set boundaries for your family in the digital world as you would do in the real world
• Get comfortable with the technologies your son or daughter enjoys – challenge them to a game on the Xbox or PlayStation or learn how they communicate with friends or people they don’t know, via gaming and social networking sites.
• Talk openly with your child to understand what they post and share online and help them understand that once something has been submitted, it can be seen by anyone and is available on the web forever, even if the photo/video/comments are taken down/deleted.
• Social networking websites, games consoles and search engines all have Parental Controls/Tools that can assist you in locking down features of the technology to make it more child friendly. Remember when you first download an app, the settings will be set to ‘public’.
• Ensure that you have conversations about all the incredible benefits that technology can bring but made sure your children are aware of the importance of responsible online behaviour.
• Expensive technology can make your child a target of criminals so remind them to keep any device well hidden to minimise the risk of theft

Remember that services such as Instagram and Facebook require the individual to be at least 13 years of age. This means that issues children under that age experience using such sites, are not often acknowledged or addressed by the providers.

Websites for information and support:

• NSPCC website has great resources tailor made to help parents have positive conversations with their children about online safety.
• Safer Internet Centre website site gives advice to parents and carers about staying safe online, and hosts Safer Internet Day each year. 
• These websites provide parental advice and resources about online safety:

  Internet Matters

  ParentSafe

  Virgin Media

• The sites below advise on the issues of online bullying and the ways in which children can be supported to avoid bullying themselves, and how to act if bullied:

  http://www.bullying.co.uk/cyberbullying/what-is-cyberbullying/

  https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/cyberbullying/deal-with-it/

• Below are some links to support making devices safer:

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

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

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