Every Christmas, lots of children unwrap their first phone or tablet, and while it is exciting, it can also be a little worrying for parents or guardians.
We want to encourage parents or guardians to make online safety part if the gift, with a few quick checks that can help children enjoy the internet safely.
Make the set-up part of the excitement. Sit down with your child as the device is switched on for the first time.
Agree on passwords, privacy settings and which apps can be downloaded. Early involvement helps you understand how they’ll use their new phone or tablet and helps build trust.
Most devices have built-in parental controls that let you manage screen time, in-app purchases and downloads.
You’ll find these in Settings under “Family” or “Parental Controls”.
Before your child starts posting or messaging, take a minute to review their privacy options.
Quick tips:
These smalls steps limit who can see, contact or tag your child online.
Let your child know they can always come to you if something online doesn’t feel right.
Explain that no one online should ever as them to keep secrets, share personal information or send photos.
Keeping communication open is one of the best ways to keep them safe.
Help your child choose a password that’s easy for them to remember but hard for others to guess.
Encourage them not to share passwords, even with close friends and to use different passwords for different apps.
Online safety doesn’t have to be complicated. A few small steps can make a big difference.
