St Matthew’s Primary School - Page
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Stutchbury St
Page ACT 2614
Subscribe: https://www.stmattsps.act.edu.au/subscribe

Email: office.stmatts@cg.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 02 6254 2653

Tech Talk with Mr Hunt

Online Safety Basics

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As children navigate the online world and interact with others more independently, they are more likely to be exposed to risks of bullying or unsafe contact, to accidentally come across content not designed for children or overspend on in-app purchases.

Your guidance can help them watch for risks and understand what is expected of them. Let them know you are always there to support them.

Advice for parents/carers

  • Keep the computer or device in an area of your home that can be supervised. Check in regularly with your child to see what they are viewing.
  • Stay engaged with their online activity. Consider setting up your own accounts with the sites they use most, or simply browsing the content, so you can see how they work and understand the risks. Before “friending” or “following” your child online, ask them. If your child says they don't want to connect with you online, it may be a good opportunity to talk about risks and rules.
  • Explore the online world with them to help establish that you can share online activities as a family. You might want to play games with them or do a creative project together.
  • Think about social media readiness. Most social media sites require users to be at least 13 years old before they can register, although some sites are created especially for children under 13. See if they are old enough?
  • Encourage respect and empathy. Teach your child to avoid sharing or posting things that may upset others. See, good habits start young.
  • Start building resilience. Explain to your child that there are ways they can deal with material that worries or frightens them. This includes immediately telling you or another trusted adult of any concerns or uncomfortable material. See, good habits start young.
  • Encourage them to learn about online safety by exploring the kids' section of this site.

Tech tips for parents

  • Ensure your own devices are protected by a password or PIN, so your child can’t accidentally come across content not intended for children.
  • If you are thinking about giving them their own tablet or smartphone, check if they are old enough.
  • If your child does have their own device, avoid logging into your own accounts on that device. This will prevent any content you have stored in the cloud that may not be child-friendly from synchronising (downloading or sharing to) your child’s device.
  • Use parental control tools you feel are right for the age and experience of your child. Be upfront and get your child on board. Let them know these can be reviewed and changed as they get older, if they show responsible behaviour. Consider installing a ‘child-friendly’ search engine that will allow them to explore a limited number of sites. See parental controls.

Daniel Hunt

ICT Coordinator