We love the internet. Children can play, learn, create and connect with people from all over the world. It’s a wealth of exciting possibilities. But with the digital world changing all the time, we need to make sure that we keep our children safe.

Our priority is to ensure our children create, consume and engage in this world as responsible and self-regulated individuals. We want our children to grow up not to just understanding the dangers and how to keep safe online, but understand how to portray themselves proudly and responsibly online, understanding that whether relationships are built online or in person, the feelings and actions are, and mean the same. We want them to grow with resilience and social skills to develop inspiring qualities as an online user.

Here are some useful top tips and websites that we recommend:

• Use technology to support children’s learning and enjoyment, but mix it with unplugged activities so your child gets their Digital 5-a-Day.
• Open up a dialogue with your child and always encourage them to talk to you about their internet use.
• Create a family agreement to establish boundaries and good etiquette for the whole family – including adults – parents are important role models!
• Consider using filtering software to block unwanted content. In addition to filtering, remember that discussions with your child, and involvement in their internet use, are both effective ways to educate them about the internet.

Here is a link to the Children’s Commissioner web page, who created the ‘digital 5 a day’ 

Common Sense Media rates movies, TV shows, podcasts, books, and more so families can feel good about the entertainment choices they make for their kids. We offer the largest, most trusted library of independent age-based ratings and reviews. Our timely parenting advice supports families as they navigate the challenges and possibilities of raising kids in the digital age.

Common Sense Education is an innovative, award-winning Digital Citizenship Curriculum prepares students with lifelong habits and skills, supports teachers with training and recognition, and engages families and communities with helpful tips and tools. We follow their scheme at Canonbury but feel free to explore what the children learn on their website: Digital Citizenship for Primary learners

At Home

Parents can have a difficult job keeping up with their children on the fast changing technology available to them, let alone knowing the dangers they face. The issues of safety, privacy, online predators or grooming and cyber bullying are sometimes complex, both technically and psychologically and parents can struggle to keep up. Below is a list of the best apps for your children to use at home. Even better, they can use their Google logins from school to login to most of them!

Social Media

We would like remind parents that the minimum age to open an account on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Skype and Snapchat is 13. Whilst many parents choose to allow younger children to use these services we cannot recommend this. To keep your children safe on social media parents should ensure that the correct privacy settings are enabled, and that appropriate adult supervision is provided while using online services.

Here are a selection of guides about particular apps with advice:

Facebook          Instagram          Snapchat             Tiktok

Gaming

Games offer a wide range of experiences to suit all tastes and abilities. Some of these focus on entertainment, but others also include educational, cultural, social and skills benefits. By finding the right games for your family, you can discover experiences that take you to new worlds, encourage fresh creativity and get the whole family playing together. From educational benefits, to collaboration and teamwork skills there are a wide range of benefits that video games offer families.

Some games are not age appropriate and you may not notice. This is down to their content or the social communication access. Age appropriate restrictions are an important guidance for making judgement over your childrens use of games.

Here are some guides about consoles and some of the gams you may have heard from your children. These guides let you know how they operate:

These websites provide advice on all of the online safety issues covered and gives parents valuable advice about gaming, social media, youtube and browsing the internet.

BBC StaySafe     Think U Know   Childnet International         Internet Matters

Parent sessions

Each half term, we will send out a newletter containing updates, links and adverts for session around Online safety. You can read it to keep up to date of the news and activities, around Islington, that your children and yourselves can get involved in.

Parent Newsletters

Autumn – Issue 1

Parent Workshops

Autumn – Session 1 – Screentime + Age appropriate content