Mevagissey Primary School
Online safety
Useful tools to navigate online safety as a parent or carer
Keeping your children safe online can sometimes feel like and overwhelming and impossible task. Below are some resources to help you understand your child's online world and help you to keep your child safe online.
Common sense media
Common sense media is a website that allows parents to research games, online content, apps and TV series to help them make an informed decision on if they want to expose their child to a certain content.
CEOP
The National Crime Agency's CEOP Education team aim to help protect children and young people from online child sexual abuse. They do this through our education programme, providing training, resources and information to professionals working with children, young people and their families
Online games
Understand the risks and get advice to help children play online games safely.
Internet Matters
Get expert support and practical tips to help children benefit from connected technology and the internet safely and smartly.
NSPCC - Social media
Children and young people use many different social media apps and sites. The most popular are Facebook and Instagram, with many others such as Snapchat, TikTok and Twitter. Click below to see NSPCC's guide to help parent navigate the world of social media.
Internet connected devices
Get advice about internet connected devices or toys and how to keep your child safe.
Advice from Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center
The following is guidance from CEOP (the Child Exploitation and Online Protection center):
Be involved in your child’s online life. For many of today’s young people there is no line between the online and offline worlds. Young people use the internet to socialise and grow, and just as you guide and support them offline, you should be there for them online too. Talk to them about what they’re doing, if they know you understand they are more likely to approach you if they need support.
Keep up-to-date with your child’s development online. Be inquisitive and interested in the new gadgets and sites that your child is using. It’s 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 continue to discuss boundaries so that they evolve as your child’s use of technology does.
Know what connects to the internet and how. Nowadays even the TV connects to the internet. Your child will use all sorts of devices and gadgets; make sure you are aware of which ones can connect to the internet, such as their phone or games console.
Consider the use of parental controls on devices that link to the internet, such as the TV, laptops, computers, games consoles and mobile phones. 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 are not as difficult to install as you might think.
Emphasise that not everyone is who they say they are. Make sure your child knows never to meet up with someone they only know online. People might not always be who they say they are.
Know what to do if something goes wrong.
Just as in the offline world, you want to help your child when they need it. Therefore, it is important to know when and how to report any problem.
Links for “internet safety” advice, guidance & informative videos for parents & carers: