How to ensure your children are safe whilst online!

Here are St Luke's we want to ensure that all children are safe when accessing online content, whether this is through research, streaming platforms (such as YouTube) or online gaming. 

Below you will find a number of website links and resources which can advise and support you on how to ensure your children are safe when using the internet at home.

Social Media Safety

It is very important that we all know how to stay safe when using social media. Many forms of social media, including Snap chat, facebook and twitter, can only be used by children over the age of 13.

Take a look at the UK Safer Internet Centre Website to see all the safety guides for social media sites.

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/social-media-guides

AGE RESTRICTIONS!

Many apps should not be accessed by children UNDER THE AGE OF 13

Research shows that children as young as 10 have access to social media! Take a look at the useful document below around discussion about social media and safer alternatives for your children!

Useful Websites for more information:

• NSPCCGaming can be a great way for young people to relax, socialise with their friends and have fun. Children can play on games consoles, apps or websites, and chat to other players or watch them play through live-streaming. But there are some dangers. And with so many games available online, it can be hard for parents to know how to keep their child safe.

• Childline: Online BullyingThere are lots of different types of online games. Some are simple games that you can play on your own and others are big multiplayer games with hundreds of people. We can help you learn how to stay safe online when playing games.

• Safer internet for Primary PupilsThis is a fantastic resource to share with your children! Here you will find films, storybooks and other fun sites, with plenty of information to help you enjoy your time online and stay safe on the internet.

• Parent's guide to GamesGames can sometimes be a tricky thing to get your head around, especially if you don't play them yourself. But the benefits are huge. Games can help young children to read; encourage teamwork and co-ooperation amongst the whole family; and teach valuable problem solving skills. Not to mention the fact they can be a great deal of fun, too. If you know which games are right for your family. That's why we created the Parent's Guide to Games, a one stop shop where families can find everything they need to get started.

• Gaming: top tips!Find out about the risks of online gaming and how to prevent any safety issues

• Think you KnowThinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline. Explore one of the six Thinkuknow websites for advice about staying safe when you're on a phone, tablet or computer.

• Parent Zone: Digital ParentingDigital Parenting is a free online safety guide, created by The Vodafone Foundation and Parent Zone. It is packed with important safety information and expert advice on issues such as healthy screen time and sleep, with content relating from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 4. Digital Parenting is free to order for UK schools and youth and family organisations (including free P&P*), to distribute to the parents and carers they work with.

• Parent's Guide to Internet SafetyIn this section, we will give a general overview of the kinds of things you and do to keep your children safe, and things they can do themselves.

Please find below the latest version of the CSAE Social Media Library.  It is not a list of ‘dangerous’, ‘bad’ or ‘apps to avoid’ per say, but contains details of apps and websites that been encountered within CSE investigations or through research that have been used by victims and offenders.

The library contains details of 204 different apps and websites.