Keeping our kids safe online

The summer holidays are here and for many kids that could mean endless hours online. But do we, the parents, really know what they are up to and are we doing enough to keep them safe?

MyWelshpool has teamed up with the Digital Wizards at Guilsfield Primary School (pictured) to ask for their advice so that we can all be safe online this summer and beyond.

Over to you, kids…

Through the years we have gained more knowledge about ICT, but there are some things on the internet that are dangerous for children and also adults as well.

The Digital Wizards in Guilsfield School help teachers plan ICT lessons and help pupils/parents understand ICT and E-safety. Digital Wizards are important because we don’t just help children, we also help adults who may not know enough about the internet and staying safe.

Do you know for certain what your children are up to on the internet?

Social media can sometimes be bad because you could meet up with random people pretending they are young or even end up being cyberbullied.

For example, Instagram or Snapchat can sometimes be negative because people could be mean to you on these apps. If this happens to your child the best thing is to talk to them about what has happened and, if it is to do with school, tell the teacher or the Headteacher about it.

Not all parents know what age you are supposed to be to use social media apps and some big websites. On the right are the age ratings for apps and sites your child/children might be using.

Most children today know more stuff about ICT than parents which is great but might also be a bad thing because they could go on to websites they shouldn’t go to.

Here are some websites that we recommend parents should use to learn about keeping their children safe on the internet:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/parental-controls/

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

Video games are cool, but they can be dangerous and alarming for younger children! For example, the Global Fortnite Battle Royale could be dangerous for children because you can talk to strangers when playing this game. If this happens, you could give away personal details by mistake.

Before you get a game you need to check the PEGI rating to make sure they are suitable for your child. The PEGI rating is an age restriction going up to 18+. Here are the ratings:

We hope you have enjoyed reading our article and have learnt about keeping your children safe when on the internet or playing games.

By the Digital Wizards

Guilsfield School