Last week Cybersafe Families presented a number of workshops to students in Years 3-6, staff and parents. The focus of these presentations was to bring our awareness to what children are doing online and how we can support them to be safe, responsible online citizens. The sessions were extremely well received with a lot to take away from the presentations. I would like to reinforce a few of the key points from the Parent Workshop.
Parents as digital role models
- Technology is a part of every adult’s life. Through work, being a parent, socialising and more, technology is an important part of our lives.
- Through our actions we are forming our children’s understanding of the importance a device has in the family. We must not inadvertently place the ‘device’ above our loved ones.
Be clear with your expectations
- When introducing a mobile phone/iPad/gaming console for the first time, be really clear with your expectations around its use. Agree on these as a family at the start.
- As the parent, you are in control of these devices.
- Set up boundaries about your access to their devices.
Educate yourself
- There are a number of extremely helpful websites to support parents in understanding what apps/games are popular at the moment and what you need to know about them.
- There is are a few links below to help you get started.
Be an active parent
- Cyberbullying and inappropriate use are harder to hide from parents who are active in their child’s online lives.
- Talk regularly with your child about their use – not in a critical way but trying to show your interest in their activities.
- Play the games, use the apps with them – it gives you a first-hand experience of what they are doing online.
Social Media / Gaming Accounts
- Under Federal legislation, it is illegal for an organisation to hold personal information about a child under the age of 13. This is why children cannot create an account until they are 13.
- So, when your 8-year-old signs up ‘with their parent’s permission’, they are telling organisations that they are 5 years older than they are. In five years time the organisation thinks they are 18 and starts showing them ads for adults when the child is only 13.
- Chat features are the single most dangerous element to online gaming/social media – as parents you must be aware of what is being said.
Stranger Danger
- We have educated ourselves and our children about the dangers of ‘Stranger Danger’, however this does not seem to transfer to our online activities.
- Would you tell a complete stranger at the shops all your personal information, give them a photo of yourself or give them your contact information? No.
- Yet we do this online through chat features, social media posts, etc. Our children don’t see the connection between ‘Stranger Danger’ in personal and being online.
I will continue to share pieces of information over the coming weeks about online safety and support for parents.
Here are a few links I encourage you to spend some time looking through:
- Youtube recording of St Martin de Porres Parent Workshop held on Wednesday, 31 March 2021 (link will expire after one week of being uploaded)
- Cybersafe Families – Parent Resource link
- Australian Government Safety
Regards
Ben Catalano
