The web’s packed with fun and informative stuff for your kids to explore. But just like in the real world, there are things we all need to watch out for. Find out about them below.
The web is full of new ways for your kids to have fun with their friends. But not everyone plays nice. Online bullying (or cyber bullying) can be as upsetting as playground bullying. See how you can stand up to it here.
It’s likely that you’ll be very involved in your child’s online experience at this age, and that they won’t be using the web to play with other children unsupervised.
Your kids are just as likely to be making friends online as they are in the school playground.
Your kids will now be spending more time online– the internet’s a great way for them to learn and keep in touch with their friends. At this age they might even have a smartphone, which can mean they’re online 24/7.
There’s a good chance your kids already have an online profile and will be using social networks and messaging apps to keep in touch with their friends. If your child has a smartphone, they could be online at any time, day or night.
The web’s a great way for kids to have fun and keep in touch with their friends and family. But anyone can pretend to be someone they’re not online. This can make it easy for adults to contact and potentially harm children and young people through social networks, chatrooms or forums.
At this age, you’ll probably be there to supervise your child while they’re online so they aren’t using the web on their own.
Your kids will already be making friends in the real world and if they’re using the web at home, they might want to stay in touch with their friends online too. Luckily, there’s a growing number of sites set up to let younger children do this safely, like Moshi Monsters and Club Penguin.
As kids get older, they spend more time keeping in touch through social networks and messaging apps, especially if they have their own smartphone or tablet. Online gaming can also be a great way for kids to have fun and connect with others.
Your kids are likely to have their own social media profiles and be using the latest apps, sites and games to keep in touch and have fun with their friends online. If your child has a smartphone, they could be online round the clock.
There’s lots of great stuff to see on the web. But there are also things you’d rather your kids didn’t see, such as pornography, violence or sites that promote self-harm.
At this age, you’ll probably be there to supervise your child while they’re online.
Your kids will probably be using the web for homework, having fun and sometimes playing with friends. They might even have their own smartphone or tablet, which means they have even greater freedom to explore online.
Your kids will be spending more time online – for homework, having fun and keeping in touch with friends. At this age, they might have a smartphone, which means they’ll have 24/7 access to the web.
Your kids will know all about the latest stuff happening online – word travels fast among young people. If your teenager has a smartphone, they’ll be online anytime, anywhere.
Staying in touch with friends and sharing what you’re up to is a fun part of being on the web. But everything we share online adds up to a ‘digital footprint’ that could be around forever and might be important in your children's future.
It’s unlikely that very young kids will be using the web to share any information or content about themselves. Most of their internet use will be supervised.
If your kids are using the web to play with their friends, they’ll probably want to share what they’re up to. Whether they have their own device or are using yours, this could include taking photos and videos and putting them online. After all, that’s often part of the fun.
Your kids will be using the web to keep in touch with their friends and family and part of the fun is sharing what they’re up to. At this age, they might have a smartphone, which means they can be sharing content 24/7. And they’ll probably know all about the latest apps and sites.
Your kids are likely to have their own online profiles and frequently share information about themselves. If your teenager has a smartphone, they can capture and share their own photos and videos anytime, anywhere.
The internet supports your kids’ learning and development in loads of ways. But the effects of constant web access aren't yet fully understood, so managing your children’s access and devices is becoming a bigger deal for families.
Most experts agree that the web and digital technology can support developmental play and learning experiences in loads of different ways, especially when used by parents and kids together.
If your kids are starting to go online for help with their homework, you’ll know it can be a great resource to support their education. The web can also help them develop real world skills like cooking or music, as well as being a place to have fun and play with friends and family.
Your kids will be using the internet for help with their homework – it’s an awesome resource for knowledge and learning. But they’ll probably also be using the web to play games and chat with friends and family.
As well as using the web for homework and having fun, your kids could be developing important life skills through what they get up to online.
Parental controls can help you manage what your kids see online, by blocking websites and apps that you think are unsuitable.
To help you keep up with the what’s happening online including the latest apps and crazes, we’re asking the people who are best placed to give you the lowdown – kids.