eSafety
The internet is integral to the lives of children of all ages. It opens up new opportunities and is now an essential part of their every day world whether they are using it for homework, to talk and share materials with their friends or for a multitude of other uses that are legitimate and beneficial in so many ways.
But where children go then child sex offenders will follow, whether in the real or virtual world, and this section of the website is for you as a parent, guardian or carer to work through and understand more about what your child is doing online.
Useful Documents
Childnet Resources
Internet Safety Links
CEOP – UK Government Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre
www.childnet.com – A non-profit making organisation working directly with children, parents and teachers to ensure that the issues of online child protection and children’s safe and positive use of the internet are addressed. Childnet International produce an online CD guide specifically for parents KnowITAll – http://www.childnet.com/resources/kia/
www.thinkuknow.co.uk – The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre has set up its own educational website which has been designed and written specifically for children, young people, teachers, parents and carers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/ The BBC Webwise is a beginner’s guide to using the internet. There is a good section on children’s online safety.
http://www.internetmatters.org This website contains lots of information about staying safe online, with tips about games, social networking, mobile technology and more.
http://www.getsafeonline.org/ A beginners guide to using the Internet safety, including a quiz and some video tutorials about how to ‘stay safe’ on-line.
www.kidsmart.org.uk/ – Kidsmart is an award winning internet safety website for parents and those working with children. It has been developed by the children’s internet charity Childnet International and has excellent information on many of the technologies used by children, with guidance on how to ‘stay safe’ online.
www.bullying.co.uk – One in five young people have experienced bullying by text message or via email. This web site gives advice for children and parents on bullying.
http://www.childnet.com/young-people/secondary – The old http://www.chatdanger.com/ website has now been incorporated into the main Childnet web site and the guidance is now at the new hyperlink above. This website is about the potential dangers with interactive services online like chat, IM, online games, email and on mobiles. It provides information, advice, true stories and games. The resource page also contains a number of links to other useful websites.
http://parents.vodafone.com/ – Vodafone have developed this website in conjunction with mumsnet. It is very accessible and provides information and guidance to parents with understanding their child’s digital world and get more involved. There is even an on-line test to see how much you know!
http://www.net-aware.org.uk/# – O2 have worked in conjunction with the NSPCC and Mumsnet to develop this site. It provides a guide to the social networks that children might use.
The internet is an exciting and fun place for adults and children to use and explore educationally and socially. The challenge for parents, carers and teachers is to make sure our children are aware and understand how to be safe when using the internet and related technologies.
Some Key Advice for Children
- Be nice online.
- Keep your personal details private.
- ThinkB4Upost, send or forward.
- Do not share your password with others.
- Don’t arrange up with someone you only know online, and tell a trusted adult if someone asks.
- Be careful who you webcam with.
- Know how to keep yourself safe.
- Don’t open an attachment unless you are 100% sure it is safe.
- Tell a trusted adult if anything happens online that worries or upsets you.
