We pose the question to our Internet Matters expert panel: how can I help my child have a safer digital Christmas? See their responses below.
I think there are lots of answers to this question and lots you can do. Much will depend on how your household is already set up.
If your child is about to get their first console or handheld device, make sure that you set out your ground rules right away – and remember it is always much harder to put stronger rules in later, so start fairly strict! Spend some time getting to know the ins and outs of the console or device before Christmas morning. Know how to use the safety features – you can find lots of useful advice right here on Internet Matters. The rules are up to you but I would always strongly suggest gaming or going online in a communal space, not a bedroom, so you can keep an eye on what they are doing. Consider a daily time limit (this might be different at weekends or on holidays). There should be a clear cut-off time at night, and devices should always be left outside the bedroom. Studies have shown that the addictive nature of our devices still has hold of us even if they are turned off, or are face down. They need to be well out of the room, so children get enough downtime away from them. And also, remind them that the people they may come across online are strangers – always, no matter how friendly they are – and they should remember that we should not treat them as friends.
For older children or those that are already going online, our advice is always the same. Keep connected. Play the games with your child. Enjoy some bonding time – be the rubbish one! Let them beat you (believe me, the time comes round very quickly where you can’t beat them even if you try!). Use the Christmas period to build a solid foundation of trust and reciprocity between you and your children so that if and when things go wrong, they know they can come to you without fear of reprisals. This is the key to having not just a safe digital Christmas, but a safer digital life online full stop. Try bringing hypothetical scenarios into your gameplay – ‘What would you do if someone started to talk to you online? How would you handle it?’ And you can always tell Breck’s story. I’ve yet to come across a child who hasn’t responded to the story of Breck Bednar – you can find out more at our website, breckfoundation.org.
I have spoken to many parents during and after the main lockdown period who had little interest in technology other than the tools they need to use but found themselves having to adapt to virtual socialisation with family and friends through tools such as Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and many others. I have even spoken to parents who would never have considered using something like TikTok but found themselves having so much fun using it.
To children this is nothing new; as a child protection consultant I speak to thousands of children annually and when you get past all the apps and games they’re using, the majority are using these as a tool to socialise. The large majority are aware of the risks and issues because they receive a good education in school, but at the end of the day they’re still children; they don’t think in the same way as adults, they can easily spend all day if left to their own devices (forgive the pun) or find themselves in a risky situation which could lead to a harmful one.
Christmas should be about family time; 2020 and the pandemic is going to change how that looks for many. Whether that is loved ones who are working or because your movements are restricted, many will be turning to technology to talk to family and friends, so I would like to summarise some simple tips:
Talk to your child about these risk areas, find out what they learn at school.
Speak to them about the different apps and games they use. Are there parental and privacy controls? Many games and most apps have socialisation features so it’s important we know what is available and use them where appropriate. The NSPCC Net Aware site can help you with this.
Whilst technology can help us to mitigate risk the two most important tools in our toolbox are:
Many of us will give or receive gifts which are “connected” for Christmas this year. From a digital camera that immediately streams to YouTube, TikTok or Instagram, to the latest smartphone, online game or Oculus headset, a lot of us will spend time on Christmas day figuring out how to get our latest gadget online and connected to the world wide web.
And perhaps that’s the way it should be in 2020, over these past few difficult months technology has indeed provided us with a lifeline – a way to keep in touch with family and friends as well as to keep learning and running our businesses and going to work.
There are a few simple tips that can be helpful when using tech and trying to get a good balance over the festive period.
It’s a good idea to agree on some tech-free times for everyone (adults included!) mealtimes are a good place to start. Equally, not having technology in the bedroom overnight is a good strategy and will help to ensure that everyone has a better nights sleep without the distraction of a device that is constantly pinging with group messages and notifications throughout the night. Take some time to look into the tools that are available on smartphones, tablets and other devices and ideally set up parental controls by agreeing with your child on what is a sensible approach to content that they can access and time that they can spend.
All of our lives have been impacted by the various lockdowns and limitations on who we can see and where we can go. Meeting up with friends, playing games, enjoying a family quiz may all be happening online which is great, but remembering some basic rules can help to make that a safer experience for everyone. Many platforms and online games allow parents to control and manage who their children are able to talk to and contact. As they get older it is appropriate for our children to have a bit more freedom, we have to trust them but it is really important that they would feel able to come and speak to someone if they needed help.
We need to ensure that if they ever feel uncomfortable, worried or scared that they will come and speak to us about that – but they won’t if they fear our reaction. Parents will understandably want to safeguard their children but banning them from spending time online when they haven’t done anything wrong is probably not the best approach, particularly if it is someone else who has behaved in the wrong way towards them. Making time to discuss what they are doing online is important.
When it comes to digital media, safety is really a question of context. Video games aren’t good or bad in and of themselves. But we do need to create a healthy context in which children can enjoy, interpret, and discuss them.
More than getting the latest consoles or gadgets for children this Christmas, the best gift is often spending time playing with them. Games like Moving Out, Among Us or Horizon Chase Turbo are a great way to play together without breaking the bank.
Although parents and carers can be cautious of intruding on children’s playtime, and of course, kids don’t always want us there, they are usually really excited if an adult takes an interest in what they are playing.
Setting aside half an hour to sit with them and play. Making a point of sitting down together to play a game. Talking about games at the dinner table.
These are all brilliant ways of ensuring the video games our children play is consumed in an appropriate way. It anchors them as a part of family life and grants us valuable insight into the world of play that our children get so much from.
See more articles and resources to help children stay safe online.
Parental controls
Socialising safely online
What is encryption?
Online gaming rating