Keeping your child safe online
A hot topic for parents navigating technology today and understanding how our children use it.
Harrow Bangkok takes e-safety seriously, as well as teaching our children to be e- savvy, we are helping parents to understand the risks associated with being online and how to keep our children safe. Technology is here to stay and the internet has become a crucial tool in teaching and learning in the classroom. So how do we protect our children from the dangers that can be found on the internet while simultaneously encouraging active and independent learning online?
There is no simple solution but if the school and parents work together we can equip them with the tools to keep themselves safe and develop appropriate online social practices.
What are some of the safety fears we face and who are we protecting ourselves from?
As parents we need to protect the personal security and emotional well-being of our children. Some of these factors include:
- Protection of our personal data
- Protection from adults and strangers with inappropriate intentions
- Protection from peers in the form of online bullying, exposure and exclusion
- Radicalisation from internet sources
- Access to inappropriate content
- Purchasing in on-line gaming
- Addiction to gaming
- Social pressure
Cyberbullying
92% of bullying in the UK is based online.
Gaming and the inappropriate use of social media among young children is on the rise. There are many ways people exploit technology from imitating and catfishing to exposing and embarrassing. One of the most common themes is the spreading of rumours and posting of gossip and false information to damage reputations and disrupt friendships and relationships. Another common theme is the sharing of secrets and private information which can be potentially embarrassing, as well as intentional exclusion. #StopCyberBullying
4 Steps to Combat Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can be much more intimidating than physical bullying and is often difficult to understand. You don’t need to be powerful to harass someone on line and an absence of motive makes it difficult to make sense of.
40% of cyberbullies engage in online aggression for fun
Why me?
The most common question children ask is why me? They should take comfort in that the bullying has very little to do with them and everything to do with the bully’s issues. Here are 4 steps to help your child to combat cyberbullying:
Step 1
Privacy is Prevention. Don’t display any personal information to the public.
Step 2
Don’t respond or retaliate. Retaliation will only encourage bullies.
Step 3
Block the bully. Make it impossible for the bully to contact your child, even if it means temporarily suspending social media accounts.
Step 4
Save the information and tell someone.
Top Tips for Parents
- Discover the internet together
- Agree with your child rules for internet use in your home
- Encourage your child to be careful when disclosing personal information
- Talk about the risks associated with meeting online friends in person
- Teach your child about evaluation information and being critically aware of information found online.
- Don’t be too critical towards your child’s exploration of the internet.
- Let your children show you what they like to do online.
- Remember that the positive aspects of the internet outweigh the negatives.
Smart tips based on resources from thinkuknow.co.uk
Top Tips for Children
- Keep personal information private
- Keep passwords private
- Tell an adult when they see something unexpected or worrying online
- Always be kind and polite online, comment positively and respectfully
- Recognise unacceptable behaviour online and report it
- Recognise an age appropriate website and report content concerns
- Know that anything shared online can be seen by others
- Make good choices about time spent online
- Understand copyright and ownership of material online
- Don’t believe everything they see and read online
- Agree with and follow sensible e-safety rules
