E-Safety Advice
The digital world is fast overtaking the real one and it is important that Hatcham Free School and parents work together to ensure our children are both safe in the real world and online.
Below are some 'Top Tips' for keeping your child as safe as they can be online:
Talk to your children
Find out what they are up to online, what sites they visit and what they love about them. Involve the whole family and show an interest. If they know you understand they are more likely to come to you with any problems. Watch 'Thinkuknow' films and cartoons with them- these are available by clicking this link:
Keep up-to-date with your child's development online
Children grow up fast and they will be growing in confidence and learning news skills daily. It is important that as your child learns more, so do you.
Set boundaries in the online world just as you would in the real world.
Think about what they might see, what they share, who they talk to and how long they spend online. it is important to discuss boundaries at a young age to develop the tools and skills children need to enjoy their time online.
Keep all equipment that connects to the internet in a family space
For children of this age it is important to keep internet use in family areas so you can see the sites your child is using and be there for them if they stumble across something they don't want to see.
Know what connects to the internet and how
Nowadays even the TV connects to the internet. Make sure you are aware of which devices that your child uses connect to the internet, such as their phone or games console. Also, find out how they are accessing the internet - is it your connection or a neighbours WIFI? This will affect whether the safety setting you set is being applied.
Use parental controls on devices that link to the internet
Parental controls are not just about locking and blocking; they are a tool to help you set appropriate boundaries as your child grows and develops. They are not the answer to your child's online safety but they are a good start and they are not as difficult to install as you think.
This link can help you to understand more about Parental Controls.
Help your child to understand that they should never give out personal details to online friends.
Personal information includes their messenger ID. email address, mobile number and any pictures of themselves, their family and friends. If your child publishes a picture or video online, anyone can change it or share it. Remind them that anyone could be looking at their images!
If your child receives spam/junk emails and texts remind them never to believe them, reply to them or use them.
It's not a good idea for your child to open files from people they do not know. They won't know what they may contain- it could be a virus, or worse, an inappropriate image or film.
Help your child to understand that some people lie online and therefore it is better to keep online mates online.
They should never meet up with any strangers without an adult that they trust
