EduCare Advent Care-ndar – Day nine

This week, the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) issued a release in which they advised of the urgent need to educate children and young people about the risks associated with the new threat of live streaming platforms.

As connected devices are probably at the top of many Christmas wish lists, on day nine of our Advent Care-ndar we look at Online Safety advice.

Conversation is key

The NPCC commented: “We need parents and carers to talk to their children about healthy relationships and staying safe online.”

Whilst tools and settings to restrict access are important, parents and carers cannot rely on practical methods alone to keep children safe online. An open dialogue with the child or young person is vital. Former Covert Internet Investigator for the Metropolitan Police Child Abuse Investigation Command and expert advisor for EduCare’s Online Safety training course, Jonathan Taylor, recommends that parents and carers show interest in children’s interests and use newspaper headlines to start a conversation.

Stay up to date

Parents and carers, and professionals who are responsible for children, need to get to grips with the details of how children and young people are behaving online; how one generation, or one social group, uses the internet and social media can be dramatically different to another.

According to the NCPP, “child protection experts are warning that knowledge goes out of date more quickly than many people realise because the online environment is now changing so quickly.”

#WhoIsSam

The National Crime Agency and National Police Chiefs’ Council have launched a new campaign encouraging parents to talk to their child about the behaviours that could put them at risk on live streaming platforms.

Get involved

If you don’t know what apps are being used, how they work, what access they require, if they have in-app purchases and what behaviour they elicit, then you can leave a child open to risk.

Jonathan Taylor recommends that people get involved and ask children or young people to give them a demonstration or tour around their world.

Don’t just assume it is safe and appropriate.

#StaySafeAtChristmas

Feeling stressed about getting everything done in time for Christmas? You’re not alone. Tomorrow in our Care-ndar we're looking at Mental Health.

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