Tuesday 6th February 2024 is Safer Internet Day and as a school community we are focusing on how to keep safe on the internet. Research shows that 54% of 3-4 year olds own their own device and on average that age group spend more than 6 hours a week online! Children are accessing technology and the internet at a younger age than ever before. There are benefits to them being online at this age however there are also many risks and it is important that we as their parents and educators become aware of these risks and how to support our children to reduce the risks. It’s never too early to talk to children about what they do online and who to tell if they come across anything online that makes them feel worried, scared or sad.
All our children will watch the story about Smartie the penguin which explains in an age appropriate way what to do when things change when using a devise e.g. pop ups, messages, images. The link to the story can be found in the document links below.
There are various documents below for you as parents/carers which gives advice on how to set boundaries, balance screen time and also about gaming.
We would really appreciate it if we can work in partnership with this and you could show and discuss the following video with them that is found on the CEOP website:- 4-7s | CEOP Education (thinkuknow.co.uk) If you have older children, you will find lot of resources that will help you discuss using the internet safely with them.
If you would like to access online Apps to encourage creativity, learning and development. Internet Matters website recommends the following for our age group which can be found by clicking the following link:-https://rb.gy/0lwx2g
The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland have recently lauched a new online safety hub. The Online Safety Hub has 2 sections - one for parents and carers and one for young people - all with up to date and relevant information to help our children be safe, secure and supported online.
The Hub is free to access and includes information on variety of topics including, how to manage screen time, understanding the latest gaming platforms and reporting inappropriate content.
