‘too much information – difficult to know where to start’
‘being unfamiliar with the apps they're using’
‘Having time...’
‘Not wanting to invade their privacy by prying on their device’
When it comes to better protecting their children from online sexual abuse, these are just some of the challenges parents and carers raised in our recent survey.
For children and young people, being online is a part of their everyday life, along with going to school, spending time with friends, and building relationships. Their online and offline lives are one and the same.
Online technology can bring a wealth of benefits to children and young people; it can also bring potential risks of harm. Understandably, this leaves some parents and carers anxious about how to ensure their child’s safety and keep up with new sites, apps, games and changes in technology.
Your role in supporting parents and carers
Protecting children and young people is everyone’s responsibility and we know that children are safest when conversations, education and support is there for them at school and home.
So, how can you help parents and carers?
1) Help them start the conversation:
- Make them aware of our dedicated parent and carer website which helps parents and carers start talking to their child about being safer online from age 4 and up. Remind them that children are never too young or too old for conversations for discussions about being safer online.
- For parents and carers of secondary aged children, run an #AskTheAwkward workshop to help them build confidence in asking some of the more challenging questions with their children at home.
- Are you a CEOP Education Ambassador? Invite parents and carers into school and deliver one of our Ambassador sessions to parents and carers.
Find out more about our Ambassador training, eligibility and read the CEOP Education Ambassador role profile here.
2) Inform them about what’s happening in school:
Support parents and carers with feeling more connected to the education their children receive:
- Share updates through your setting’s communication channels (e.g. newsletters, school website, email).
- Keep it simple: provide 1-3 key pieces of information or advice at a time to avoid overwhelming them.
- Include lesson objectives and offer conversation starters to encourage follow-up discussions at home.
- Use CEOP Education’s home safety activity sheets as take-home resources.
- Promote CEOP Education’s Facebook page and our ‘What to do when’ (WTDW) roundup for sharing top tips.
3) Support them to access trusted information:
Help parents and carers feel confident navigating online safety topics by guiding them to clear, reputable sources. Signpost to trusted platforms such as: