Pre-school (0-5)

Online safety advice

More and more pre-schoolers have their own tablets or borrow their parents’ devices to play games, use apps and watch their favourite TV shows. See advice on simple things you can do to make sure they’re staying safe online.

Display video transcript
supporting preschoolers online nought to

fives

more and more preschoolers now have

their own devices

and if they don't they're probably using

shared devices

here's what you can do to make sure they

have a great time online

and don't stumble across things you

wouldn't want them to see or hear

whilst it's always best to supervise

young children online

there are lots of free tools that you

can use to help you set

up devices safely parental controls on

your home broadband are free and easy to

set up

they allow you to control the websites

your child can access

most popular devices and apps also have

inbuilt controls to help you decide

what your child can access and set rules

around when they should be using them

and for how long make sure to use secure

passwords when setting up any parental

controls

and even if your child is not using them

turn on safe search on google and

restricted mode on youtube to filter out

inappropriate content

our setup safe guides walk you through

the steps

so you can get set up in just a few

minutes

not all screen time is created equal so

it's important to ensure your child has

a balanced diet of activities

both online and offline that can help

them develop key skills and have fun

it's very important that screens are not

displacing or disrupting sleep

face-to-face friendships or physical

exercise

where possible their screen time is best

spent together with you

choose a variety of safe and educational

online games and apps to play with your

child

so that you'll feel more comfortable

with them exploring

make use of websites and platforms

designed specifically for preschoolers

like cbb's youtube kids nick jr

and use age ratings and reviews in the

app store to check app suitability

it's never too early to start setting

boundaries as a family

set some rules around how and when

devices should be used at home

and while you're out and about this will

encourage your child to develop

good digital habits and give you the

opportunity to make sure they are using

devices positively and with purpose

it's important to talk with your

children about what they enjoy doing

online

take the time to have regular chats

about their safety helping them

understand what they should watch out

for online

reassure them if they see or hear

anything online that upsets them

they will not be in trouble and they

should come and talk to you about it

because safety on the internet matters

What's New?
How can I make socialising online safer for my family?
How can I make socialising online safer for my family?
Read article
Gaming guide to support pre-schoolers
Gaming guide to support pre-schoolers
See guide
Balancing screen time - tips to support pre-schoolers
Balancing screen time - tips to support pre-schoolers
See guide

Online safety starts early: Video guides to support under-5s

Together with EE, we’ve created a 4-part series to help parents, carers and Early Years practitioners keep under-5s safe online. Learn how to build good habits, develop mindfulness, set devices up safely and have regular conversations with children at the beginning of their digital journey.

Internet safety checklist for pre-school children

Use our list of practical tips to help children under-5s have a safer online experience and get the best out of the digital world as they grow. You’ll also find a range of helpful tools and expert tips for further support.

Checklist: Supporting 0-5-year-olds online

Explore together

Talk to your child about what the internet is and explore it together so you can show them all the great fun and educational things they can do. Reassure them that if they see anything upsetting, they should come and talk to you.

Be involved

Encourage them to use devices in the same room as you so you can keep and an eye on how they’re using the internet. Stay inquisitive about what they are doing and encourage them to share their enjoyment with you.

Put yourself in control

Activate parental controls on your home broadband. Most Internet-enabled devices also offer parental controls. For example, Microsoft Windows, Apple iOS, and Google’s Android all offer ways to control the apps and sites your child can visit. These controls can also keep them from seeing inappropriate videos and other content.

Even at this age, have conversations about what personal information is and how it’s important to keep it to themselves. While they’re unlikely to speak with strangers online, it’s good to start these conversations early. That way, if something happens that asks for personal information, they know to get help from you.

Search safely

If you let your child search independently, make sure safe search settings are activated on Google and other search engines or set the default to one designed especially for children such as Swiggle.

Use passwords

Keep your devices out of reach and set passwords on all your internet-enabled devices and don’t share them. Then you’ll know when and where your child is accessing the internet. Also, use passwords to make sure they’re not making additional purchases when they’re playing games or using apps. Visit our how-to guides to find out how.

Use age-appropriate sites and apps

Choose safe, fun and educational sites and apps for your child. Use age ratings in the app stores to check suitability. Make use of video, learning and gaming platforms and services designed with children in mind like YouTube Kids, Sky Kids, BBC iPlayerKids, and Nick Jr. See our Top kids TV apps for safer viewing for more advice.

Set boundaries

It’s never too early to start setting boundaries. Set some rules about how they use connected technology, including which apps and sites they can use and how long they can spend on them. We’ve created a family agreement template that you can use to get started.

Why it matters: Facts & Stats

pdf image

Screen time

On average 3 to 4-year-olds spend over 6 hours online a week

pdf image

Device use

of 3-4-year-old have their own device

pdf image

Rise in concern

Fewer parents of 3 to 4 year-olds  agree that ‘the benefits of the internet outweigh the risks’

Research document

See our parenting digital natives report to get more insights into parents’ concerns about their children’s digital lives.

Featured recommended resources

What issues might affect pre-schoolers?

Here are some of our favourite resources to help you learn more about digital wellbeing and online safety for the youngest of children. We’ve also highlighted some fun and educational apps to get them learning online. (Click the bar to expand to see the resources.)

Guides and resources for parents

image

eSafety Early Years advice guide

Created by the Australian eSafety Commissioner this is a guide to support children under 5 online. It features simple advice on how to keep children safe, encourage them to be kind, and help them make good decisions online.

image

Google safety tools for families

Set ground rules with Google Family Link and use a range of safety tools to help the whole family build good online safety habits.

image

O2 and NSPCC online safety helpline

From setting up parental controls to reporting online bullying, you can call the free helpline on 0808 800 5002, or visit an O2 Guru in store.

image

O2  & NSPCC NetAware

O2 and NSPCC’s Net Aware is a guide for parents of 50 of the most popular social networks, apps, and games with children. You can download it as an app or visit the site to stay informed.

image

Guide to tech: Using Location tracking on kids devices

Here’s what you need to consider before deciding to share your child’s location on their device and how to best use apps that offer location tracking.

image

Samsung Kids

Samsung Kids allows parents to set a PIN lock, create a child profile, and set daily time limits on the Samsung Kids. This is available for Samsung tablets and smartphones available from the Android 9.0 Operating System. It allows you to help shape a safe environment for your child to explore and connect with the world.

image

NSPCC Helpline

If you’re worried about something a child has experienced online you can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.

image

Guide to Monitoring apps

We’ve reviewed some of the most popular apps that allow you to manage your child’s online experience.

image

American Academy of Pediatricians 

Use the AAP’s ‏tool to create a family media plan to help you to think about media & create goals & rules that are in line with your family’s values.

image

Internet Matters Wellbeing Apps guide

We’ve scoured the best of the net to uncover popular wellbeing apps available to download.

image

Good App Guide

Use the Good App Guide to get independent reviews of children’s apps, parenting and child development advice. It is run by Fundamentally Children an organisation dedicated to helping children develop skills through play

image

Young children and screen time 

This is a simple guide on what to think about when managing young children’s screen time. It is created by Childnet and provides advice on key things to consider, how to set rules, choosing age-appropriate apps, and how to teach children to be responsible online.

Online safety activities to do with your child

image

Smartie the Penguin

Join in with Daddy Penguin’s song and follow the adventures of Smartie and Daddy Penguin as Smartie learns how to be safe on the internet.

image

Online safety story books 

Take a look at a curated list of online safety storybooks from the Kent Online Safety Blog that you can share with your child to help them understand a variety of online challenges to keep them safe.

image

Jessie & friends: for 4-7-year-olds

Jessie & Friends is a series of three animations that follow the adventures of Jessie, Tia and Mo as they begin to navigate the online world, watching videos, sharing pictures and playing games.

Apps to encourage learning, creativity, and development

image

YouTube Kids

Made for young kids, this child-friendly version filters out inappropriate content and hides comments on videos giving parents peace of mind and a child a safe online viewing experience. Download as an Android or iOS app.

image

Sky Kids App

The Sky Kids app offers a fun and safer way for pre-schoolers to nine-year-olds to enjoy a wide range of popular kids TV. Parents have been involved in the development of the Sky Kids app. The result is an app that kids will love, supported by safety features that parents need.

image

Lingokids

Lingokids offers educational games, picture dictionary, language learning videos, songs for children to teach English to children from 2 – 8 years of age, designed with Oxford University Press content

image

Duck Duck Moose Apps

Duck Duck Moose Apps are Free educational apps that allow young children to explore and learn in a safe and fun environment. The range of apps covers; reading, emotions, maths, creative expression and play.

image

Fisher Price Apps

Designed for the way kids play today and can be used at home or on the go. All based on learning concepts and all free to download on iOS from Apple and Android via Google Play or Amazon.

image

BBC iPlayer Kids

BBC iPlayer Kids app gives children easier access to their favourite programs, while parents can be confident they’re watching shows appropriate for their age and free from adverts. Simply login to your BBC iPlayer account to set up a child’s account.

image

CBeebies Storytime App

This app aims to make reading fun, with playful and imaginative stories designed to help support early years reading. All apps are free to download on Apple and Android, or Kindle Fire.

image

Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame

This is a digital wellbeing app using Sesame Street’s monster character to share with your child to help teach skills such as problem-solving, self-control, planning, and task persistence.

Find related advice, articles, and resources

Choose filters to narrow your search

See a broad range of age-specific resources to help children stay safe online. Use the filter to sort the resources you'd like to see.
Filter
Sort by
Policy & guidance
A child wears headphones and uses a smartphone.
Principles for providers of children’s residential care
These 9 principles outline best practice for supporting online safety for children in residential care.
These 9 principles outline best practice for ...
Parental controls
talktalk homesafe logo
TalkTalk HomeSafe guide
Learn how to manage your parental control network settings on the TalkTalk network with our step-by-step how-to guide.
Learn how to manage your parental control ...
The Fitbit logo on a white background.
Fitbit fitness tracker
Learn how to set up a Family Account and child's account on Fitbit with this step-by-step guide.
Learn how to set up a Family ...
Apps & Platforms
A photo shows three children sitting outside and using devices. Choosing the right apps can support wellbeing and balanced screen time.
How to choose apps for kids during the school holidays
Guidance on choosing new apps and games for children to support wellbeing, interests and balanced screen time.
Guidance on choosing new apps and games ...
Google ChromeOS logo on a white background.
ChromeOS safety guide
Get step-by-step guidance on setting Chromebooks up for safety with this parental controls guide to ChromeOS.
Get step-by-step guidance on setting Chromebooks up ...
The macOS Ventura 13 wallpaper with a macOS logo and Ventura written overtop.
macOS Ventura 13
Get step-by-step guidance on the safety settings for macOS Ventura 13.
Get step-by-step guidance on the safety settings ...
Parental controls
Pink and purple Electronic Arts round logo
Electronic Arts app parental controls guide
Manage who your child can talk to, what content they can access and more with Electronic Arts app parental control options.
Manage who your child can talk to, ...
Research
supporting-educators-online-safety-issues-feature
Research: Supporting educators on issues of online safety
This report focuses on the importance of frontline services which directly support families: schools. Most children in England spend more than 30 hours at school per week. Some families look to teachers as a source of support in many aspects of life, educational and noneducational – including online life.
This report focuses on the importance of ...
Showing 8 of 372 results
Load more