
Share this content on



internet matters logo
internet matters logo
MENU
Please enter your keyword
  • About us
    • Our Team
    • Expert Advisory Panel
    • Our partners
    • Become a partner
    • Contact us
    • Careers
  • Inclusive Digital Safety
    • Advice for parents and carers
    • Advice for professionals
    • Research
    • Resources
    • Connecting Safely Online
    • Fostering Digital Skills
    • UKCIS Vulnerable Users Working Group
  • Online Issues
    • Sexting
    • Online grooming
    • Fake news and misinformation
    • Screen time
    • Inappropriate content
    • Cyberbullying
    • Online reputation
    • Online Pornography
    • Self-harm
    • Radicalisation
    • Privacy and identity theft
    • Report issue
  • Advice by Age
    • Pre-school (0-5)
    • Young Children (6-10)
    • Pre-teen (11-13)
    • Teens ( 14+)
  • Setting Controls
    • Social media privacy guides
    • Gaming platforms and devices
    • Smartphones and other devices
    • Broadband & mobile networks
    • Entertainment & search engines
    • Get kids tech set up safe
  • Guides & Resources
    • My Family’s Digital Toolkit
    • Online gaming advice hub
    • Social media advice hub
    • Press Start for PlayStation Safety
    • Guide to apps
    • Digital resilience toolkit
    • Online money management guide
    • The dangers of digital piracy
    • Guide to buying tech
    • UKCIS Digital Passport
    • Set up safe device checklist
    • Online safety leaflets & resources
  • News & Opinion
    • Articles
    • Research
    • Parent Stories
    • Expert opinion
    • Press releases
    • Our expert panel
  • Schools resources
    • Digital Matters online learning platform
    • Back to school guides
    • Early years
    • Primary school
    • Secondary school
    • Connect school to home
    • Professional guidance
You are here:
  • Home
  • Resources
  • Conversation starters to encourage kids to share their digital lives

Conversation starters to understand your child’s online life

Having regular conversations with your child can keep them safe online. Help children deal with online issues and open up about their digital lives with these 4 simple tips.

Download tips Share

148 likes

Talking digital with kids

#1 Talk early and often
  • Talk with children from an early age to make it easier to maintain good communication
  • Have bitesize conversations that are relevant to them
#2 Choose the right time
  • Choose to talk when you are due to spend some time together, like over a meal or during their bedtime routine
  • Bring digital experience into normal, everyday conversations
#3 Open up and share too
  • Model the behaviour you want them to show by sharing about your day
  • Be open and encouraging to make them feel supported
#4 Create a safe space
  • Ask open-ended questions
  • Ensure that your child feels listened to rather than cornered
  • When they start talking, hold off with questions and really listen
  • Be prepared, calm and patient with them
Things to cover in conversations

Online Reputation

  • Understanding how online activity creates a ‘digital footprint’ that lasts forever
  • Being a good digital citizen e.g. treating people like you would face to face
  • Thinking before posting

Critical thinking

  • Making them aware that some people hide behind fake profiles
  • Being critical about what they see online as not everything is true
  • Agreeing digital boundaries to allow them freedom to make informed decisions

Personal Safety

  • Keeping info private on devices and apps they use through privacy settings
  • What a good social media profile looks like
  • Create strong passwords for every online account

Resolving Online Issues

  • Tools and strategies to deal with issues they may face online such as cyberbullying or seeing inappropriate content
  • Where & how to report an issue – encouraging them to speak to an adult

Best of the Net

  • What they enjoy most about their favourite apps or sites
  • The coolest sites and apps among their group of friends
  • Talking about things online you can enjoy together and ways to stay involved in their digital world

Was this useful?
Yes No
Tell us why

More to explore

See related advice and practical tips to support children online:

  • Advice for 0-5 years
  • Advice for 11-13 years
  • Advice for 14+ year olds
  • Advice for 6-10 years

On site links

  • Online safety advice by age
  • Online Reputation
  • Mum shares digital prep for childs’ move to secondary school
  • LEGO Group launches ‘Build & Talk’ challenges to encourage families to talk about online safety

Related Web Links

  • Online issues
  • Cyberbullying
  • Inappropriate content
  • Sexting
  • Self-harm
  • Screen time
  • Radicalisation
  • Online grooming
  • Online pornography
  • Online reputation
  • Privacy and identity theft
  • Advice by age
  • Pre-school (0-5)
  • Young children (6-10)
  • Pre-teen (11-13)
  • Teens ( 14+)
  • Setting controls
  • Smartphones and other devices
  • Broadband & mobile networks
  • Gaming platform & other devices
  • Social media privacy guides
  • Entertainment & search engines
  • Connecting Safely Online
  • Resources
  • My Family’s Digital Toolkit
  • Online gaming advice hub
  • The dangers of digital piracy
  • Digital resilience toolkit
  • Social media advice hub
  • Guide to apps
  • Accessibility on Internet Matters
  • Digital Matters
  • Schools resources
  • Early years resources
  • Primary school resources
  • Secondary school resources
  • Parent pack for teachers
  • News & opinion
  • Our expert panel
  • #StaySafeStayHome support for families
Follow us

Want to read in other language?
en English
zh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanhi Hindiit Italianpl Polishpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanishcy Welsh
Need to address an issue fast?
Report issue
Subscribe to our newsletter
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
gray logo
Copyright 2023 internetmatters.org™ All rights reserved.
Scroll Up

Download Workbook

  • To receive personalised online safety guidance in the future, we’d like to ask for your name and email. Simply fill your details below. You can choose to skip, if you prefer.
  • Skip and download