Keeping Children Safe Online
Keeping Our Children Safe Online: A Guide for Parents and Carers
For children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), the online world can provide fantastic opportunities that they might not easily access offline, such as learning new skills, connecting with friends, and simply enjoying fun videos. However, we know that young people with SEND are also more likely to experience cyberbullying and can sometimes feel fearful or discouraged from using the internet if they aren't properly supported. Our goal is to help you empower your child to enjoy the positive aspects of the internet safely.
How You Can Support Your Child's Digital Journey To strike the right balance, online safety experts and psychologists recommend the following key strategies:
- Accompany and Explore Together: It is enormously important to take your child by the hand and accompany them in the digital world. Instead of simply refusing a new game or social network, explore it with them beforehand to understand the dynamics and content. Support them closely or more broadly, depending entirely on their individual abilities.
- Establish Rules and Boundaries: Work together with your child to create clear rules for online behaviour, and make sure to regularly "check in" to monitor these rules. Discuss the risks sensitively and negotiate boundaries that work for your family.
- Keep the Conversation Open: Talk to your child about who they are communicating with online. Make sure they know they can always come to you if anything worries them, and encourage them to "think before they share".
- Master the Privacy Settings: Take time to familiarise yourself with the security settings and reporting procedures of the social networks and games your child uses. Ensure your child knows how to block users and understands the dangers of sharing passwords.
- Handling Online Bullying: If your child experiences cyberbullying, always keep evidence by saving the content. You can report inappropriate behaviour to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). In severe cases involving threats of violence or sexual content, you should contact the police.
Helpful Links and Resources We highly recommend exploring the following resources to build your family's digital confidence:
- Internet Matters: Helping children with SEND have positive experiences online - A comprehensive Q&A with experts on supporting vulnerable teens and children with SEND.
- Internet Matters: My Family's Digital Toolkit - An interactive tool designed to give you personalised, ongoing support and guidance for your child's online safety.
- Internet Matters Advice for Neurodivergent Children - The site offers a dedicated hub with bespoke advice for neurodivergent children, covering safe browsing, gaming, and tackling online issues.
- Anti-Bullying Alliance - Provides excellent information and support regarding bullying both online and offline.
- NSPCC - A vital national safeguarding resource for comprehensive advice on keeping children safe. (Note: Please visit the NSPCC homepage directly for their dedicated online safety hubs).