Being a parent or carer is challenging enough anyway, however with the advent of technology bringing up children can be even more difficult.

A simple yet effective way to get involved with your child and their lives online is through discussion. By maintaining an open dialogue and encouraging them to talk about their internet use, you can help your child to access the incredible resources that the internet has to offer whilst also making sure they remain safe online. Often young people can see the internet as a source of information and knowledge when they have important questions about their lives, bodies and what is going on in the world around them, therefore their internet use might result in you needing to have conversations with them about some very difficult topics. We understand that talking about these issues can be a daunting prospect for many parents and carers, however it is important to remember that you are the best people for your children to talk to.

Things you can do along with regularly discussing internet use with your child are listed below:

• Ensure you and your child are aware of privacy settings and how to install these on their devices, as well as know where to report or block anything inappropriate that they might view. You could ask about these safety features when buying your child’s device and get help with setting parental controls up if needed. However, remember that parental controls are never 100% effective.
• Look at the websites your child talks about so you have some idea of what they involve. You could use the browser history to keep an eye on the websites your child has been looking at.
• You could do a ‘family agreement’ to provide a framework that will help you as a family set clear expectations for positive and safe internet use. For example, this could involve being clear with your child on any rules they should follow regarding their internet use, such as the time they spend online, what personal information should never be disclosed online, distinguish between online and offline ‘friends’.
• Watch out for any excessive use of the internet.
• If necessary, monitor and log conversations your child is having online, but only when you have concerns to do so.
• Encourage your child to speak to a trusted adult if something has happened online to them or someone they know which has worried or upset them.