Healthy Habits
Online safety basics for parents
Each week we will share some online safety tips for parents.
Use the available technology
- Get to know the devices you and your children use and set them up for privacy and online safety. Take advantage of parental controls to monitor and control screen time and access to content in ways appropriate to your child’s age and experience.
- Choose apps and games carefully, taking age ratings and consumer advice into account. Check the App Store or Google Play, and for games, the Australian Classification Board’s online database. NetAware UK has a comprehensive guide to popular social media apps and games. The Australian Council on Children and the Media and Common Sense Media (US) offer information about apps, games and websites searchable by age.
Teenagers can spend a lot of time online — instant messaging, sharing photos and videos, playing online games and using online chat and voice chat through social media services can be a big part of their social identity. Our students are now spending time on Microsoft Teams as a platform, so it is important that they understand how to safely and respectfully interact with their peers and teachers online in this forum. Further information on how to use Microsoft Teams can be found here.
It can be a great experience but there are risks. You can help equip them with the skills to manage these risks and deal with negative situations.
Free workshops on offer
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and based on direct feedback from school communities, the Family Life School Focused Youth Services program, with the support of Heartlinks, are offering a number of FREE workshops during Term Two.
Email: heartlinks@familylife.com.au Phone: (03) 8599 5488.
The schedule of FREE workshops on offer is:
Looking After YOU for parents.
Monday May 18 - 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Tuesday May 19 - 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Looking After YOU for teachers
Wednesday May 20 - 12:00pm to 2:00pm
Monday May 25 - 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Topics include the following:
- What you can influence and what is within your control
- The role that stress plays in your life
- Options to improve your wellbeing
- Self-care strategies and that self-care is not selfish
- How to implement change
Look here for more information https://heartlinks.com.au/workshops/