Talk to your child about what they are up to online

 Be part of their online life; involve the whole family and show an interest.  Find out what sites they visit and what they love about them. If they know you understand, they are more likely to come to you if they have any problems

Watch 'Thinkuknow'  films and cartoons with your child

Visit the Think u Know website using the link below, this has a range of films, games and advice for children from 4 through to 16 years old.

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

Encourage your child to go online to help with learning

There is a wealth of age-appropriate sites online for your children. Encourage them to use websites and apps which are fun, educational and that will help them develop online skills.

Keep up-to-date with your child's development online

Children grow up fast and they will be growing in confidence and learning new skills daily. It's important that as your child learns more, so do you.

Set boundaries in the online world just as you would in the real world

Think about what they might see, what they share, who they talk to and how long they spend online. It is important to discuss the boundaries at a young age to develop the tools and skills children need to enjoy their time online safely

Keep all equipment that connects to the Internet in a family space

It is important to keep Internet use in family areas so you can see the sites your child is using and be there for them if they stumble across something you would prefer them not to see.

Know what connects to the Internet and how

Nowadays even the TV connects to the Internet. Make sure you're aware of which devices that you child uses connect to the Internet, such as smartphones,

iPads and tablets, Xbox, PlayStation and other games consoles. Also find out how they are accessing the Internet - is it your connection or a neighbour's wi-fi? This will affect whether your safety settings are being applied.

Use parental controls on devices that link to the Internet 

This allows you to set the appropriate boundaries as your child grows and develops.