Parents urged to keep a watch on kids’ online activities
No school attendance and the axing of sport and other activities will probably see your kids spending way more time online than you’d like. So how can you make sure they are safe?
Advice
Don't miss out on the headlines from Advice. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Parents have been warned that remote learning, the axing of extra curricular activities and extended holidays will see children increasingly vulnerable to cyber bullying.
Many private schools have shifted to online learning already and the State Government has closed schools, but social distancing, isolation and a possibility of online learning being extended beyond the school holidays has triggered concerns.
The Alannah and Madeline Foundation said it was a good time for parents and carers to talk about online access and use.
“While it is super understandable that people are using technology more at home, it does raise certain risks around cyber bullying,” senior Adviser on bullying Jessie Mitchell said.
“We would suggest that people sit down and make a plan as a family about when and where they will be online.”
The move to online learning and digital access is a turnaround for many students in government schools who this year have been banned from accessing their mobile phones from the first bell to the last bell.
Ms Mitchell said it was important that children balanced their online and offline time and focus on activities that built their happiness and resilience.
She suggested:
FAMILIES look at privacy, safety and notification settings to ensure they were up to date.
REDUCE their use of social media reminders that might cause distress.
AS A family they agree on where and when devices will be used and consider banning them around the kitchen table, other than for programmed school learning, or in bedrooms.
“It is good to keep devices out of bedrooms and minimise their use when family are spending time together, such as sharing meals,’ she said.
Ms Mitchell said a game called ‘what are we doing on our phone’ could be instructive for families.
“Everyone has to call out and tell everyone what they are doing on their phone. It can be helpful for some parents who will see their own patterns of use and how they are role modelling for their children.” she said.
Ms Mitchell said children might be struggling without doing their normal sports and other activities.
“It is time a make some lists of fun stuff that the family can do on and off the screens,” she said.
She said children that may have been hoping to see older relatives, who may be at risk of coronavirus, could make time to Skype them.
“It is important that people aren’t spending time on devices that makes them feel worse.”
“It is also a good time to get kids to reflect on time spent on devices and whether it leaves them feeling better or worse.”
She said some families will be struggling with isolation.
“It really is uncharted waters. But it is important to be honest with kids about how you are feeling in an age appropriate way,” she said.
Ms Mitchell said children could look at doing random acts of kindness for elderly neighbours, leaving them a card or waving and greeting neighbours.
Alannah and Madeline Foundation has a subscription eSmart Digital Licence which works through issues of safe handling, use and treatment of others on devices.
Ms Mitchell said as children might face difficulties it was important to let them know about helplines they could use via web, text or phone.
These included Kids Helpline and EHeadspace, an online counselling service.
MORE:
HOW SCHOOLS WILL KEEP TEACHING
CBC ST KILDA OPENS ITS DOORS TO GIRLS