Principal's Message
Safer Internet Day
In this week's newsletter, you will find information and resources for Safer Internet Day. Together, we hope to create a safe environment for the children when they are using the internet.
The eSafety Commissioner website helps Australians to have safer, more positive experiences online. The site has a parents page that provides advice for parents and carers to help children have safe experiences online. eSafety Commissioner.
Below are some examples of what you can find on the site.
GOOD HABITS START YOUNG
Parents and carers play an important role in helping children to develop digital intelligence — the social, emotional and practical skills needed to successfully navigate the digital world.
Even for preschool children, it is never too early to instil good habits, and as your child gets older it is useful to keep reminding them of these basic digital intelligence principles: respect, empathy, critical thinking, responsible behaviour and resilience. These are also principles you can emphasise with your child when things go wrong.
On this page:
- How to build digital intelligence
- I am worried my child might be bullying others
- My child has shared inappropriate images
HOW A PARENT CAN BE AN ONLINE SAFETY CHAMPION
On Safer Internet Day, millions of people around the world unite to raise awareness about online safety issues and inspire positive change. So it’s a great opportunity to start that chat about online safety with the kids in your life.
Parents can use eSafety’s ideas and resources to help improve the online safety of your family and your community, not just on Safer Internet Day but every day of the year.
Explore the online safety hub
Find out how to start the chat about online safety with your child, by exploring eSafety’s great range of advice and resources.
- Visit our parents and carers pages, including lots of tips for helping your child have safe, enjoyable experiences online.
- Get your children learning about online safety early, with our pages developed for kids and young people.
- Download the parents guide to online safety booklet, available in multiple languages.
- Keep on top of all the games and apps your child might be using, with our eSafety guide.
- Avoid ‘tech tantrums’ with young children by getting them to help fill out a Family Tech Agreement, featuring Big Ted, Jemima and other characters from ABC Play School.
- Read advice about how to choose good online content, in eSafety’s new Early Years resources for children under 5 and their families.
- Check out our step by step guide to reporting different types of online abuse.
Parents Can Learn New Skills
Join a webinar designed especially for parents and carers
Join one of the inaugural webinars for parents and carers this Safer Internet Day. They’re free!
These live webinars will explore the latest research and expert advice for using technology safely. They are a great way to learn how you can help your child develop the skills to be safer online.
All sessions will be delivered by our eSafety expert, Greg Gebhart.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/safer-internet-day/families
THE BIG ISSUES
Online games can be great fun for your child, but make sure you can help them manage the risks.
This page is for parents and carers. It covers:
- How to create a safer gaming environment for your child
- Is your child spending too much time gaming?
- Grooming and bullying through in-game chat
- Limiting in-game purchases
- Games with gambling themes
By a very young age, many children across Australia are already using digital devices – and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Kids can learn and develop important skills and behaviours with the right kinds of online games, apps and education programs.
But there are risks too, especially when devices can be connected to the internet. So, it’s never too early to encourage good online habits. Read more here about establishing good online habits and behaviour from an early age.
ARE THEY OLD ENOUGH?
How to navigate key online milestones for your child.
Parents and carers play a key role in guiding their children as they first encounter the online world and begin to learn through exploration, play and social interaction.
When is your child old enough to take their first online steps and begin to explore on their own? How soon are they ready for smartphones and social media accounts?
It is a good idea to protect younger children from online risks such as encountering harmful content, contact with strangers or missing out on physical activity. But it is up to you to decide when and how they take these first steps, and how best to support them as they begin their online journey.
On this page:
- Should your preschooler be using online devices?
- Is your child old enough for a smartphone?
- When are they ready for social media accounts?
- Determine your child's readiness for social media
- Resources for parents
TAMING TECHNOLOGY AT HOME
How to use parental controls and other tools to maximise online safety in your home.
Know your devices.
All the devices that connect to the internet in your home offer lots of benefits. But you also need to understand the risks associated with these devices and how to protect yourself and your family.
Explore how to use parental controls:
- on your home wi-fi network
- built into devices, including computers, mobile devices, gaming consoles and smart TVs
- through third-party software
- in apps and programs, including