29-10-2021
11:54
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Neve Spicer is an ex-teacher and now is the chief editor at WeTheParents. She writes about the risk to children online.
Kids and students can know more than their parents or teachers but we should educate ourselves to protect them. Here, she shares where to begin.
Many of today’s parents are young enough to have grown up with the early Internet at home, when rules against talking to strangers or revealing your location went a long way in establishing basic safety. These days, knowing how to protect kids from online dangers is more complex — what’s popular online is always changing, and kids often have access at home, school, and on the go.
These actionable tips can help parents stay in the know about today’s online climate and be aware of potential red flags in preteen and teen device use.
Rule 1: Understand just how connected they are
Long gone are the days of a family computer ban cutting kids off from their digital social life. While cell phones are an obvious culprit, today’s kids are often far more connected than we realize. Smart TVs allow them to access streaming media and browse the web, game consoles often have friends list and text and video chat options, and it’s nearly impossible to regulate their behavior when using devices at school or friends’ homes. This means it’s key that they understand how the rules of safe tech use benefit and protect them.
Rule 2: Show them the risks (and how to avoid them)
Sharing personal information online can put kids at risk of grooming, harassment, bullying, threats, doxxing, identity theft, and embarrassment. Though they may feel they’re talking to “friends”, it’s essential that kids understand the risk of personal harm that occurs when too much information is shared online. Teach them to think before they post, disable location settings, enable privacy settings, delete friend or chat requests from strangers, and to never reveal their real name or address.
Rule 3: Know the top apps — some may be inappropriate
These days, entertainment and communication on phones and tablets are app-powered. While you likely know some of the most popular apps, like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, kids often eschew these for platforms where those their age gather. While activities like watching Twitch streams and playing Clash of Clans or Roblox are relatively tame (save a few occasional salty words), chat apps like Omegle, Snapchat, Kick, Wishbone, and Ask.fm can be breeding grounds for inappropriate conversations, grooming, and cyberbullying.
Staying educated about the way kids use technology and the risks that accompany new, popular apps and online trends is the best way to keep them safe. Teaching them about safe and appropriate computer use, limiting device use through parental controls, and maintaining an open, honest dialogue about the risks of unsafe behavior online are all key.
Dolce is a family-run business providing freshly made, healthy meals to children using sustainably sourced British produce. We have delivered on our promise to schools for over 25 years, supported with the use of our cashless pre-order system reducing queuing time, limiting waste and managing allergens.
The Reach More Parents platform utilises more channels than any other platform. Whether it is in-app messaging, emails, SMS, social media channels, your school website or our multi-media news feed - we can update them all simultaneously. Couple this with top-class support, as we’re the only company to provide dedicated telephone support to parents.
CREATE, INNOVATE and INSPIRE with 3D printing technologies for STEAM education. CREATE Education aims to support teachers and educators to bring 3D printing technologies and additive manufacturing technologies to young people through CPD, workshops, supplies and more!
https://www.mightywriter.co.uk/
Winner of the Education Resources Awards, Teach Primary Awards 2020 and Teach Early Years Awards for Best Primary Literacy Resource. Mighty Writer is not software, it's tactile. It transforms children’s literacy almost overnight, guaranteed! Its core range is for 4-7 years, but can be used with all abilities.
www.optimumleadershipsolutions.co.uk
Experienced former HTs, offering bespoke services and products such as SEF-SIP pack, Teaching over Time Evaluation Matrix, Subject leader pack, Governing training pack, Prep for Ofsted pack, HT appraisal,Training programmes for leaders at all levels & School Improvement Support.
Bookteq, a B-Corp certified digital platform with a social purpose, unlocks the potential of school facilities, spaces, and wraparound activities. We enable schools to better support families and the community by reducing barriers to access, and nurture happier young people through easy access to sport, activity, and play.
https://schoolpolicytracker.co.uk
School Policy Tracker is an online software solution that was created by school leaders for school leaders. Our online policy tracker can save you valuable hours, making sure you know exactly which policies are in need of review and ensuring you are fully compliant and up to date with all statutory requirements.
https://cornerstoneseducation.co.uk/
Curriculum Maestro is a game-changing online platform that helps you to implement and manage your primary curriculum all from one place. It includes a fully sequenced curriculum, projects, resources, teaching and assessment tools. Curriculum Maestro is aligned with the new Ofsted framework and is easy to implement, saving you and your staff hours of valuable time.