ParentZone
ParentZone Local is here to help with online questions and support for families. Click through to see how to request access. The following parent sessions are happening soon:
Monday 17 April, 4:30pm
Everyday Digital: Social Media
Social media is fun for teens – but it can raise many issues (as parents well know!). Join our 15-minute session to learn a little more about online social environments, relationships and content.
Tuesday 16 May, 4:30pm
Everyday Digital: Online Gaming
How well do you know the online games your child plays? There are many financial risks to consider, and our 15-minute session will help you feel more confident and secure about their spending.
Tuesday 20 June, 4:30pm
Everyday Digital: Disinformation
Disinformation is a growing problem online – including scams, extremism and radicalisation. Join our 15-minute session to learn some skills and habits to help your child challenge their online environment and what they see.
TikTok
Did you know that TikTok is currently the fastest-growing social media platform? As a result, many parents have questions around how it works and how to help their child use it safely. That’s why we’re hosting a live and interactive workshop to provide you with all the ‘need-to-knows.’, you will find more information here
Keep your child safe on WhatsApp
Parentzone - A Parent Guide to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (or ‘PUBG’) is a popular battle royale-style game available for console and mobile devices. It’s compatible with almost all gaming platforms. PUBG regularly has millions of users, as it is both free-to-play and very accessible. The game features realistic and engaging battles with many other players. More information can be found here.
Everything you need to know about the discussion platform - please click here
NSPCC
Is Tik-Tok safe for children - the NSPCC newsletter can be found here.
Parentzone - A guide to Whatsapp
WhatsApp is a free, instant messaging app that offers direct messaging, voice call, video call and group chats of up to 256 people. There is also a web version – WhatsApp Web – that you can use on a desktop or laptop. While WhatsApp has an age rating of 16+, there is no strict age verification to prevent younger children from signing up. So, are there any risks parents should be aware of, and what can they do to help their child be safer while using the app? Click here for further information
Parentzone - A Parent Guide to YouTube
YouTube is the most popular video sharing service in the world, with 22 billion monthly visits. Alongside video uploads, users can live-stream, broadcasting directly to their audience. To make an account and upload content, users must be 18+ (or 13+ with parental consent). However, you don’t need an account to watch content on the site. The Parent Guide explores the risks children might encounter on the platform and the settings available to help them have safer experiences while they watch - it can be found here
Parentzone - Search Engines
Find out about search engines and what you need to know about safer searching from Parentzone - here
Parentzone - What is Yubo
Yubo is a live chat steaming app that has generated some controversy during its existence due to safety concerns. Parentzone has provided details of all you need to know here https://parentzone.org.uk/article/what-is-yubo
Parents Session - Online Gaming
Online session run by Parentzone - Tuesday 8 February 2022 Live: 4.30pm-5pm, more information and details on how to join can be found here.
A Parent Guide to oversharing online
Sharing things is a key part of online life – and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Many young people use social media to express who they are, update what they are doing or post things they feel particularly proud of. But some things are not suitable to be shared online, and in some cases, could even be dangerous. This Parent Guide explores the risks around oversharing and what parents can do to help their child share more safely online. The guide can be found here.
Advice for parents and carers to keep their children safer online
Lots of us will continue to rely on technology over the winter break, for entertainment and keeping in touch with friends and family. You may find useful the following articles from ‘Thinkuknow’, which is an education programme from the National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Command to help keep children safer online:
- A parent's guide to privacy settings
- Gaming: what parents and carers need to know
- What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?
#Ask The Akward
CEOP have announced the recent launch of #AskTheAwkward, a brand new resource for parents and carers of secondary-aged children.
#AskTheAwkward aims to help parents and carers have regular conversations with their children about online relationships and more. The resource includes three short films created in a social experiment style, with real parents and their children to capture their reactions to a range of questions.
Parent Zone
Parentzone - Yik Yak
Parentzone - A quick guide to Instagram
FREE online-safety support for parents letter can be found here
PZ Poster
PZ Leaflet
A Parents Guide to Location Settings
https://www.net-aware.org.uk/news/a-parents-guide-to-location-settings/
Reporting Racism Online
The Safer Internet Centre has useful information on how to report racism on line. You can find information here.
Online Safety
Whilst there are huge benefits to being online in order to stay connected to family and friends during this period, the government recognises many parents may feel concerned about the activities and content their children are accessing. This guidance outlines resources to help keep children safe from different risks online and where to go to receive support and advice.
COVID19: support for parents and carers to keep children safe online
Parents and Carers Online Safety Newsletter from CEOP
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, which is a command of the National Crime Agency, has produced an online newsletter for parents and carers. With many children and young people accessing the internet, you may find the newsletter useful - the newsletter can be found here.
Social Media and online platforms
NSPCC have joined forces with O2 to help parents explore and understand online life as children know it and I had previously shared information about their website. The NSPCC and O2’s Net Aware site and app have now been updated with all-new reviews from parents and young people. It provides online safety information and advice on privacy settings and other features, as well as recommended age guidance and risk ratings for inappropriate content. Net Aware is a tool for parents or anyone working with children, who want to better understand what young people are doing online. Please click here
The UK Safer Internet Centre offers advice for families wanting to set online safety resolutions for the new year. Tips include: have an open and honest conversation; create a family agreement; look at all your accounts; use the internet together. Please click here
On-Line Safety – Parentzone
We are working closely with ParentZone to promote on-line safety for all our students and their families. You can access their ParentZone site here
Parentzone weekly newsletter for up to the minute information on social media and E-safety click here.
Once in the website you need to enter your email address and the password we sent you - you can access the login details here. Get in touch if you need any help.
Up to date information is also available from Parentinfo
On-Line Safety – Childnet International
Childnet International has produced guidance for parents and carers on looking after the digital wellbeing of children and young people, which you may find useful . The guidance includes having an awareness of how being online can make children and young people feel, and how they can look after themselves and others when online. The guidance includes: age specific information for 3-7 year olds, 7-11 year olds, 11-14 year olds and 14-18 year olds, about how children and young people are interacting with the internet; top tips to support young people at this age; and ideas to help start a conversation about digital wellbeing.
The guidance can be accessed via here
On-Line Safety – Fortnite
UK Safer Internet Centre – Safer Internet Day
The UK Safer Internet Centre has launched resources ahead of Safer Internet Day 2020 on 11 February 2020. The theme for the day is “Together for a better internet”. There are resource packs for parents and carers. Please click https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/2020 for further information and resources.
Harmful content
UK Safer Internet Centre has launched a new online reporting tool for abusive and harmful content, which you may find useful and want to share with children in your school/setting and their parents/carers. ‘Report harmful content online’ is a reporting and advice system for online issues relating to: bullying; harassment; impersonation; pornographic content; suicide; self-harm; threats; unwanted sexual advances; violent conduct.
To report harmful online content please follow the link here
