Help grandchildren stay safer online

AROUND 10 million grandparents in the UK support in the day-to-day care of children. Children, given half a chance, will spend hours on their tablets or phones. Some grandparents may feel they are out of their depth with technology, but more than ever children need a guiding hand to stay safe.

We want to give grandparents the confidence to take care of children as they explore the online world. The good news is you don’t need to be a digital expert:

1. Be interested in what your grandchildren are doing online: ask them to show you how it works, the games they are playing and who they enjoy talking to. If the people seem a bit too old, the games or films too scary or brutal, or your child is sharing too much with strangers – gently say so.

2. Negotiate boundaries: for example, limit time on the internet. Coax them to spend time with you offline playing games or going for a walk.

3. Let them know you are there for them. If anything they read, see or hear online worries or scares them you have a lot of life experience to help.

4. Try using apps and social media yourself – ask your grandchild to show you how!

5. Look out for signs that your grandchild is unusually sad, withdrawn, anxious or upset. Let them know they can tell you anything. Visit www. kidscape.org.uk Lauren Seager-Smith Chief Exec Officer, Kidscape