#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
