More and more children in early years 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.
While 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, 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 SafeSearch 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 CBeebies, YouTube Kids, and 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 that if they see or hear anything online that upsets them, they will not be in trouble and should come and talk to you about it because safety on the internet matters.
Research shows that pre-schoolers like to watch videos, on both Youtube and movie & tv streaming services.
The following platforms are most popular among children aged 0-5. Make sure to set the apps your child uses for safety with the guides below.
Use these practical tips to help pre-schoolers have safer online experiences and develop their digital resilience.
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.
SEE CONVERSATION GUIDEChoose 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.
Keep devices out of reach and set passwords on all your 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.
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.
SEE TEMPLATEEncourage 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.
FIND PARENTAL CONTROLSIt’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.
GO TO ADVICE HUBDownload or print this guide to help keep your pre-schooler safe online.
Explore a range of age guides across online issues to help support your pre-schooler.
