As children between the ages of 11 and 13 make the transition to a more independent stage with the move to secondary school, they become more confident internet users with more varied habits. Internet use can be hugely positive for children, but it’s vital to continue discussing online safety with them.
at this age it's likely that your child
will become more independent
spending more time online gaming
chatting and browsing
so it's vital to continue to talk to
them about online safety
this will help equip them with coping
strategies to deal with any online risks
they face
and help them be happy and healthy
online here's what you can do to help
set up parental controls on your home
broadband as well as all
internet-enabled devices that your child
has access to
many will have inbuilt controls to help
you manage which apps and sites your
child can access
and for how long helping you ensure
their time online
is positive and has a purpose our setup
safe parental control guides will walk
you through the steps
so you can get set up in just a few
minutes get them involved when setting
controls
so they feel part of the process make
sure to review them as they grow and
become more active online
as the internet rapidly becomes a more
regular part of your child's daily life
make sure you enable safe search
settings on popular sites that they're
using
like google and youtube set boundaries
or have a family contract
to set their expectations for the sites
and apps they can use
remembering that you are a role model
and they will copy what they see you do
encourage them to leave devices outside
the bedroom at night
and have regular screen free family
times
there may be an increasing number of
ways your child will be online
gaming consoles personal assistants
laptops for school
as well as smartphones so stay
interested in what they are doing
respecting their growing independence
encourage them to use their devices in
shared areas
and set up a user account just for your
child
most children get their first smartphone
before they are 12. but if you feel they
aren't old enough
explain why and help them deal with any
pressure from their peers to get a
device to fit in
keep them safe on the move by making use
of inbuilt safety settings on mobile
networks and devices to filter out
inappropriate content
check age ratings on games apps films
and social networks to see if they are
age appropriate
for game ratings check out the pan
european game information
classifications
or peggy ratings and look for age
ratings in app stores
have conversations with your child about
how they use the internet
and what they may find there most social
media platforms have a minimum age of 13
or above
but many children use them so consider
whether your child is mature enough to
post responsibly and manage any risks
they may encounter
encourage them to develop their critical
thinking making it a habit to question
what they see online
and not to take everything at face value
teach your child ways that they can
protect themselves online
like enabling strict privacy settings
using block and ignore functions
and the importance of keeping personal
information private
remind them that not everyone they meet
online may be genuine
and they should never meet anyone they
have only met online in real life
without you or an adult they already
know and trust
help your teen feel confident about
saying no if they're asked to do
anything that makes them feel worried or
uncomfortable
and to tell you about it
connected technology is hugely positive
for most children
you can help them develop a healthy
relationship with screens and tech
teaching them how to have a good balance
on online and offline activity
and a balanced digital diet
because safety on the internet matters
you
Use our list of practical tips to help children pre-teens have a safer online experience and build up their resilience to get the best out of the digital world as they grow. You’ll also find a range of helpful tools and expert tips for further support.
Encourage your child to talk to you about how they use the internet and show you what they do. Discuss with them the kinds of things they might come across. A good time to talk is when they get a new device or mention a new website.
Encourage them to use their tech devices in a communal area such as the living room or kitchen and set up a user account for your child. If you think they aren’t old enough to have a mobile phone or tablet, stay firm and explain the reasons why.
Activate parental controls on your home broadband, all devices including mobile phones and games consoles. Safe search settings can also be activated on Google (and other search engines), YouTube and on entertainment sites like iTunes and iPlayer.
Be aware that if your child is accessing the internet using public WiFi they may not have safety features active. Some providers are part of family friendly WiFi schemes with filters to block inappropriate content. Look out for friendly WiFi symbols like RDI Friendly WiFi symbols when you’re out and about.
Agree and set boundaries with them or have a family agreement for their internet use, including when and where they can use portable devices and for how long, before they get used to doing their own thing.
Talk to children about the benefits and risks of social networking before they join any sites. Let them know that anything they upload, email or message could stay around forever online.
If your child does have a social networking profile, teach them to block or ignore people and how to set strict privacy settings. Request that you or someone you both trust becomes their ‘friend’ or ‘follower’ to check that conversations and posts are appropriate.
The age ratings that come with games, apps, films and social networks are a good guide to whether they’re suitable for your child. For example, the age limit is 13 for several social networking sites including Facebook and Instagram.
of children aged 12-15s who own a mobile are allowed to take it bed with them
Parents are concerned that children will actively engage in risky and dangerous behaviour such as contacting people they do not know
See our parenting digital natives report to get more insight on parents concerns about their children’s digital lives.
Here are some of our favourite resources to help you learn more about e-safety for 11-13 year-olds and pass on the message to them. We’ve also highlighted some appropriate apps as they start to go mobile.
Guides and resources for parents
As part of our new partnership with the BBC, we’ve worked together to create an interactive guide to give you practical tips on how you can keep your children safe online. It covers 7 key areas such as “Taking control with tech” and “What kind of parent am I?”.
Vodafone’s Digital Parenting provides checklists and practical advice on keeping children safe online.
From setting up parental controls to reporting online bullying, you can call the free helpline on 0808 800 5002, or visit an O2 Guru in store.
Set ground rules with Google Family Link and use a range of safety tools to help the whole family build good online safety habits.
O2 and NSPCC’s Net Aware is a guide for parents of 50 of the most popular social networks, apps, and games with children. You can download it as an app or visit the site to stay informed.
Here’s what you need to consider before deciding to share your child’s location on their device and how to best use apps that offer location tracking.
Get tools and tips to support your child’s digital wellbeing on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp
O2 and NSPCC’s Net Aware is a guide for parents of 50 of the most popular social networks, apps, and games with children. You can download it as an app or visit the site to stay informed.
Parent Info is a collaboration between CEOP and Parent Zone. It provides high-quality information to parents and carers about their children’s wellbeing and resilience. Schools can host the content on their own website and use it in any other ways (in letters to parents etc) that they want.
Young Minds Parents Helpline is available to offer advice to parents and carers worried about a child or young person under 25. Call 0808-802-5544 to get support.
Use the AAP’s tool to create a family media plan to help you to think about media & create goals & rules that are in line with your family’s values.
With the help of Pocket-lint’s Andy Robertson, we’ve given tips on how best to use them and reviewed the top apps available.
We’ve scoured the best of the net to uncover popular (FREE) wellbeing apps available to download.
Use the Good App Guide to get independent reviews of children’s apps, parenting and child development advice. It is run by Fundamentally Children an organisation dedicated to helping children develop skills through play
Online safety activities to do with your child
Own it covers everything from online privacy and avoiding malware, through to dealing with everyday dilemmas children face online, as well as having fun. Quick links to charities and organisations like Childline, whose phone lines and online chat can provide urgent support should children need it, will also be available.
Age-appropriate games, activities and information that can teach older children how to keep safe online.
Part of the BBC’s ‘Bitesize’ resources and suitable for children aged 11-14. An interactive video that helps children to recognise and avoid potentially dangerous situations online.
This is an adventure-packed online game that makes learning about internet safety interactive and fun. In Interland, children can learn about avoiding badly-behaved hackers, phishers, and bullies by practicing the skills that they need to be confident online explorers.
Created by young people for young people, the code offers simple steps to take positive action to deal with cyberbullying.
Apps to help children get the most from the digital world
From Horrible Histories to The Dumping Ground: On A Mission app, CBBC apps are packed full of fun activities that will engage young children and help them learn through play.
The Sky Kids app offers a fun and safer way for pre-schoolers to nine-year-olds to enjoy a wide range of popular kids TV. Parents have been involved in the development of the Sky Kids app. The result is an app that kids will love, supported by safety features that parents need.
This app aims to build a digital community where children can share art, stories, games, photos and contests that they’ve created with other like-minded children. Children can follow friends, other PopJam accounts, and their favourite band, artist or authors.
BBC iPlayer Kids app gives children easier access to their favourite programs, while parents can be confident they’re watching shows appropriate for their age and free from adverts. Sign into the BBC iPlayer app and create a children’s account to start using it.
