What’s inside this guide
Visit our advice hubs for support on how to make your child’s online activity safe and fun. We’ve included 3 top tips for each type of activity to get you started.
Social media and chatting online
Social media and messaging are a big part of children’s lives.
Help them enjoy it safely with tips on managing accounts, setting up privacy, and sharing wisely. Discover how parental tools can make it easier to monitor activity and keep conversations safe.
Go through privacy settings with children to ensure they know who can view their posts and send messages. Encourage them to choose friends and followers they know personally.
Remind your child that once something is shared, it can be hard to take back. Talk about sharing responsibly and the importance of keeping personal information private.
Many social platforms offer parental tools. Use them to spot any red flags but keep an open line of communication with children about how you’ll use these tools to keep them safe, not invade their privacy.
Online gaming
Online gaming opens up worlds of fun but can come with risks.
Learn about tools to manage screen time, control in-game spending, and encourage safe player interactions. With the right guidance, gaming can stay safe and enjoyable for everyone.
All consoles have built-in parental controls that can help manage manage screentime, game ratings and limit chat functions if necessary.
Teach children that online gaming is a shared experience, much like playing in a group in real life. Good sportsmanship, respect, and kindness help everyone enjoy the game more. Reinforce that they should never share personal information, such as their full name, age, school, or location, with other players—even if they seem friendly.
In competitive games, emotions can run high. Help children learn how to handle conflicts calmly and walk away if someone is behaving poorly. Discuss how to use in-game options, like muting, blocking, or reporting, to deal with rude or aggressive players.
Watching and browsing online
Kids love streaming and exploring online, so it’s essential to keep it age-appropriate.
Learn how to manage access to content, set screen time limits, and make smart choices about what they watch, for a balanced and safe online experience.
Setting up child-friendly filters is one of the most effective ways to ensure children only access age-appropriate content. Most streaming platforms, search engines, and devices have built-in parental controls. Explore these options and select ones that align with your child’s age and maturity level.
Sit down with children and let them help choose what to watch. Encourage them to think about why certain content appeals to them, and guide them to pick shows or movies that have positive messages or educational value. This approach helps develop critical thinking around media choices.
Encourage children to take regular breaks, especially if they’re watching for more than an hour. Suggest the “20-20-20” rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds, to reduce eye strain and prevent fatigue.
Creating and sharing online
From dance to drawing, kids love sharing their creations.
Support their passions by ensuring they know how to share safely, respect copyright, and use AI tools responsibly to create unique and original content.
Help children find safe, age-appropriate spaces to share their work with friends or family. Social media isn’t the only option; child-friendly platforms may be better suited.
Use relatable examples—like sharing toys or borrowing a book—to explain the idea of copyright. Let children know that while it’s okay to be inspired by others, it’s not okay to claim someone else’s work as their own.
For instance, if they’re using AI to help write a story or generate images, encourage them to do the final editing and add their personal touch. Show them that AI is just a starting point, not a substitute for their creativity.
Learning and building skills
Technology can be a great learning tool if used wisely.
Visit the hub to help children find reliable resources, make the most of AI for education, and stay focused on safe, productive online learning experiences.
Identify a few reputable educational sites, such as BBC Bitesize, National Geographic Kids, or educational YouTube channels approved for children. Make these accessible by bookmarking them, so children can easily return to these reliable sources.
Explain to children what makes a resource credible. For example, government websites, recognised educational platforms, and sources with clear authorship tend to be more reliable. Discuss how to spot warning signs of unreliable sites, like exaggerated claims, lack of authorship, or an excessive number of ads.
Set up a routine where part of their study time is devoted to screen-free activities, such as reading a physical book, handwriting notes, or solving maths problems on paper. This can help them practice skills without relying on technology.
Spending money
From purchasing items in-game to online shopping, children spend money in a range of ways.
Explore the hub to help children develop good online money management. You’ll also learn about in-game spending and social media scams.
Set limits by agreeing on the rules around spending, such as asking for permission. You can also make use of built-in parental controls to restrict spending, set passwords or protect payment methods.
Make use of free or low-cost bank accounts and debit cards designed for children. Coupled with ways to learn about money management, these accounts are a great way to learn the value of money and how to save.
Discuss with your child the reasons behind their purchases to help them understand the value of virtual items in real terms.
