ways of reducing potential technological risks to children and young people.

[samlily604]

Plz help

I am on my level 3 childcare, and am totally stuck on 7.1, 7.2, task 1.
I have listed some potential technological risks but can not think of ways to reduce the risk of children getting caught up in them.
I have put:
Gambling sites
pornographic sites
self harm sites
video game sites

can anyone help me think of some ways that can keep children safe from these sites plz?
any help really appreciated.
thankyou
sam

[Jo1988]

Hey there

There are so many ways that we can help and support children while they use the internet and mobile phones to protect them and reduce risks. Firstly children should be educated about the use of internet and mobile phone dangers and risks, be clear about the kind of personal information that children should not share over the internet or on mobiles including name, address, telephone numbers and emails. Teach children what to do if a stranger approaches them while online. Monitoring software can allow us to monitor chats, emails, website visits and internet searches so that we can keep informed silently. Make sure we are clear with children to cut off any contact with strangers or people they do not know and to notify you immediately. A good way to education children is to introduce the SMART rules.

• S- Safe- Keep safe by being careful not to give out personal information when you’re chatting or posting online. Personal information includes your email address, phone number and password.
• M- Meeting - Meeting with someone who you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. Only do so with parents/carer permission and even then only when they can be present. Remember online friends can still be dangerous even if you have been taking to them for a very long time.
• A-Accepting- Accepting emails, photos, files or texts from people you don’t know or trust can lead to problems, they may contain viruses or nasty messages.
• R- Reliable- Strangers and people you don’t know online may lie about who they are and information such as pictures on the internet may not be true.
• T-Tell- Tell your parent , carer or trusted adult if someone or something makes you feel worried, concerned or
uncomfortable or even if someone you know is being bullied.

Every children setting should have a clear E-policy which has information about internet usage. Our settings policy states about the filter settings and that only certain websites are allowed to be accessed. Chat websites and messengers and forbidden and children are not able to access these. Children are always supervised whilst using the computers and are only able to access windows tools such as paint and word. Some internet websites that help with learning and development are also accessible.
Information workshops and presentations are available for parents to attend involving information about E-safety. They can be available at different times so that all parents can attend.

Its important to mention about social networking websites as well such as facebook or MSN messenger because this can lead to children being led on by strangers who pretent to be children then meeting up with them.

I hope it gives you an idea of what to write.

Happy new year!! :)

[samlily604]

Thankyou so much. This is a great help.
happy new year to you aswell :)

[Jo1988]

No problem :) x