Christmas time usually brings on the in-flight of new gifts, these days a minority of those a changes and digital devices. Here is a bunch of useful links for parents. Start with the ones about parental controls, you really should know how to restrict your child’s one interactions. It’s also a good idea to look at your own internet safety practices, the safer and more aware you are, the more you will be able to educate your children on internet interactions. It’s just as important in cyber safety education to also teach children how not to become the bully, as well as avoid being bullied.
The following links provide useful information, resources and advice for parents wanting to help their children safely enjoy video and PC games, and navigate the online world:
- A series of videos from the iGEA on how to set up Parental Controls
- Cybersmart Cybersmart has been developed by ACMA (The Australian Communications and Media Authority) and is part of the Australian Government’s Cybersafety Program. It has activities, resources and practival advice to help young kids, kids, teens and parents in the online environment.
- Telstra has produced some information to assist people of all ages navigate the online world safely
- Netsafe promotes cybersafety by educating and supporting individuals, organisations, and industry, on a range of cybersafety issues
- Netbasics, from New Zealand, has been designed to act as a guide through the issues and risks we all face everytime we go online. Netbasics have identified some of the more important issues that home users commonly face and have created an animated story to demonstrate each aspect.
- In My Day: A Parent’s guide to cybersafety. The internet and mobile phones are now a normal part of life. Young people are accessing the internet at earlier ages than ever before. The internet offers education, entertainment and creative opportunities for young people. Many of these opportunities reflect activities that, “in your day”, were done offline. “In My Day” will help you understand the new environment and what young people do there.
- askaboutgames.com has been developed by PEGI (UK based) and is intended to try and answer any questions parents and players may have about age ratings on video games but also details some advice on how to play games responsibly.
getgamesmart.com is a US Site with some fantastic tools and resources to help keep parents and children informed about playing games safely and appropriately
- thinkuknow.co.uk has been developed by the CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) in Europe to provide information on websites, mobile phones and new technology. Australia has also developed their own site thanks to the Australian Federal Police, Microsoft and ninemsn. Visity thinkuknow.org.au to see the latest information.
- Opencolleges has produced an interactive guide to staying safe on the internet.
Webwise kids has been designed to provide tools to help parents have positive and productive conversations with their children about internet safety.