The Educator Magazine U.K. Jan-April 2025 issue - Magazine - Page 16
STRONGER TOGETHER –
empowering parents
to help children stay
safe online by Mubina Asaria
Mubina Asaria, is Safeguarding Consultant at ed-tech
charity LGfL-The National Grid for Learning.
Whenever I deliver safeguarding training
in schools, one of the most common
questions asked is how to effectively
communicate the online safety message to
parents. After all, children spend more time
online at home than during the school day.
Technology has a pervasive influence on
young people, and they need the
knowledge and tools to navigate their
online space safely. Many parents may not
fully recognise the crucial role they play
which is why bridging this gap and
empowering parents and carers is so vital.
One common misconception is that
safeguarding is solely the school's
responsibility. Parents often underestimate
their role in reinforcing these practices at
home. Similarly, there’s a belief that children
are entitled to autonomy and privacy
online. While these are important, there
must be a balance with appropriate
supervision and guidance.
Another common myth is that online safety
is primarily about limiting screen time.
While excessive screen use can be harmful,
the quality and context of digital
engagement matter far more.
For example, using devices to collaborate,
design and create content, such as coding
games or making art, fosters creativity and
skill development. Schools can help parents
distinguish between productive and
harmful digital activities.
One challenge is the rapid rate at which
technology evolves. This can make it
difficult for parents to stay up to date with
the latest trends, apps and risks, With c
hildren constantly switching apps, and
playing different games, parents can feel
overwhelmed by trying to keep up with
what's safe, what isn't, the latest risks, and
which app offers what. And while many
parents are aware of the risks, they often
feel unprepared to address them due to
the complexity of modern digital tools.
Others may struggle with a lack of time or
confidence.
Hard-to-reach parents present a particular
challenge. Often, these are the families
most in need of support, yet the least
likely to attend workshops or sessions.
I recommend schools employ creative
strategies such as integrating short online
safety talks into events with a guaranteed
attendance such as parents’ evenings or
coffee mornings.
One school I visited, successfully reached
the majority of parents when they ran a
short online safety talk at the start of the
nativity play, in stark contrast to the
previous year where only eight parents
turned up to an online safety workshop.
Parents are more likely to attend sessions
when their children are involved.
Co-presenting with pupils as ‘experts’,
tapping into their knowledge about the
latest apps and trends, and encouraging
them to share safety tips and demonstrate
how to set parental controls has proved a
popular and successful approach..
Rather than relying on one-off workshops,
a drip-feed approach provides regular
bite-sized information through newsletters,
apps, or quick talks during school events.
This impacts less on parents time, and
ensures they receive consistent reminders,
updates and tips on simple things to do at
home.
Schools know their students and their
parents, and are best suited to make
decisions about what’s most appropriate
in the context of their community targeting online issues that are current.
Many teachers have expressed that they
feel unprepared to lead conversations
about online safety, fearing they lack the
technical expertise to answer detailed
questions.
In response LGfL has developed a readyto-use Parent Online Safety Presentation –
a free bank of informative slides, questions,
discussion starters and top tips, Teachers
build their own presentation and activities,
on issues that are most relevant for the
school. The resource incorporates the latest
research, facts, figures and key findings
from online safety organisations including
Ofcom, Revealing Reality and the Internet
Watch Foundation, to illustrate the reality
of levels of risk.
Topics include: talking to your child;
device use and ownership; supervision and
parental controls; screentime; social media
and gaming; age requirements; and critical
thinking. Each complex topic is broken
down into manageable chunks and
accompanied by teacher notes and
guidance, signposting to resources such
as a digital family agreement, story time
ideas, and conversation starters for family
discussion.
To ensure parents are fully engaged,
the presentation includes plenty of
opportunities for questions and discussion.
This in turn enables them to feel more
confident about check-in conversations
with their child at home.
CURRENT HOT TOPICS:
Gaming is one of the most prevalent online
activities among children of all ages.
While it offers social and cognitive benefits,
it also carries risks like exposure to
inappropriate content, in-game purchases,
and interactions with strangers. Teachers
and parents should discuss the importance
of understanding age ratings, monitoring
in-game chats, and setting time limits.
Social media platforms like TikTok,
Snapchat, and Instagram, can dominate
young people’s lives, so it’s vital to teach
them about privacy and the permanence
of online content. Parents can guide
children to set strong privacy controls,
avoid oversharing, and report harmful
interactions.
Debates about screen time are often
polarised, with different sides advocating
for free access or a total ban. But there
are workable ways to provide a balanced
approach. Regular routines that include
tech-free zones and times ensure children
develop healthy habits.
Children often hesitate to report
cyberbullying due to fear of losing access
to their devices. Schools and parents should
encourage open communication and
reassure them that seeking help won’t
result in any type of punishment.
Online threats often manifest in subtle
ways. Radicalisation, may begin through
exposure to extremist content masked as
memes or ‘harmless’ videos. Grooming can
start unwittingly on gaming platforms or
social media, where perpetrators disguise
their intent. Parents need to be aware of
what’s out there, so they can help ensure
their children have the knowledge and tools
to stay safe in their digital worlds.
For further guidance and information to
support parents and carers in online safety,
visit: https://parentonlinesafety.lgfl.net/
