Online safety advice for children up to the age of 5
More and more pre-schoolers have their own tablets or borrow their parents’ devices to play games, use apps and watch their favourite TV shows. This blog gives some helpful advice on simple things you can do to make sure they’re staying safe online.
What children are doing online
Children are now more digitally savvy than ever before. Their use of digital devices is commonplace with apps like YouTube Kids becoming a destination of choice for 72% of children aged 3 to 4 according to a recent Ofcom report.
Research also shows that children are moving away from watching TV, opting for video-on-demand content on video-sharing platforms to watch cartoons, mini movies and songs. However, unlike older children, only a small number of children aged 3 to 4 (23%) play games online.
The impact of device use on children’s development
Screen use can have a number of benefits for children but also comes with some challenges that parents and carers should be aware of. Ongoing research suggests there are both positive and negative developmental outcomes.
Benefits of screen use include:
- opportunities to promote creativity and learning
- language development
- improvement of numeracy and literacy skills
- greater understanding of their world
- development of digital skills
Challenges of screen use include:
- impact on children’s ability to control their emotions
- displacement of activities that promote social interactions vital for development
- risk of exposure to inappropriate content
Screen time for children up to the age of 5
In the UK, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health published guidance for parents and clinicians, suggesting that ‘there are no ‘safe’ amounts of screen time.’ The right amount of screen use will vary between families.
This approach emphasises the need to assess screen time limits based on the needs of the child while ensuring sleep and social activities are not negatively impacted. Most recognise that the quality of what children consume will have the most impact.
Advice for parents and carers
As devices become more commonly used, here are some tips on how parents and carers can help children use screens safely.
Things you can do to support children’s use of technology include:
- using device safety settings to ensure apps and content are age-appropriate
- monitoring and supporting children while they use devices
- thinking about what you post online and how this may impact your children - this could be ensuring you do not share details about your children publicly and getting parental consent before creating or sharing images of other children on social media.
- You should teach children about internet safety by:
- making them aware of what safe use of technology looks like
- choosing educational apps and platforms that help them to develop their skills
Stay informed about issues that young children face online through online safety training and by keeping up to date with news and research on internet safety.
Further reading
Internet safety checklist for pre-school children - Internet Matters
Source: https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/safeguarding-and-welfare/internet-safety
