Talking to vulnerable children

Think about when and where best to talk to them – in the car or a neutral place where they feel safe

Jot down what you want to say to focus your mind, and make the conversation relevant to them

Gauge their knowledge

Think about your child’s understanding of the internet. Are they already clued up or do they need more support?

Set goals

Think carefully about what you want to get out of the conversation

Set boundaries

What boundaries do you want to put in place when it comes to your child being online? Can you come up with an agreement together? What boundaries does your child think is fair?

Awareness of vulnerabilities

Be aware that disabled children and those with special needs (SEN) are more vulnerable to cyberbullying, but that doesn’t mean it will happen to your child

Support online use

Although vulnerable young people are at greater risk to cyberbullying online, don’t discourage them from using it. Instead, find ways to support them

Set examples

Bullying is a learnt behaviour – so it’s important to set a good example and regularly reinforce being a good citizen