Why Safety Matters:

• For Kids: Just like superheroes need protection from villains, kids need to be kept safe from harm. Safeguarding ensures they can learn and play in a secure environment.
• For Adults: You’re the guardians of these little heroes, ensuring they’re safe and sound while they explore and learn.

Key Points for Practitioners:

1. Be a Role Model: Show kids how to stay safe by setting a good example. Think of yourself as their safety superhero!
2. Educate: Teach children about safety in a fun and understandable way. Use stories, games, and activities to get the message across.
3. Supervise: Keep an eye on the kids to make sure they’re safe. Just like a lifeguard watches over swimmers, you’re there to keep them out of danger.
4. Follow Policies: Stick to the rules and guidelines of your setting to ensure everyone stays protected.

Tips for Parents:

• Monitor Activities: Keep an eye on what your child is doing, both online and offline. Think of it as being their safety sidekick.
• Set Boundaries: Establish clear rules for what’s safe and what’s not. It’s like drawing a map of safe zones for your child.
• Communicate: Talk to your child about their day and encourage them to share any worries. Open communication is your secret weapon.

Common Risks:

• Inappropriate Content: Kids might come across things that aren’t suitable for their age. Be their filter and guide them to safe content.
• Stranger Danger: Teach kids to be cautious about who they interact with, both online and in person. Not everyone is a friendly face.
• Privacy: Make sure kids know not to share personal information with strangers. Their identity is their secret identity!

Practical Steps for Practitioners and Parents:

For Practitioners:

• Training: Keep your online safety skills sharp with regular training sessions and workshops arranged and recommended by Cygnets.
• Engagement: Get parents involved in online safety chats and share handy resources with them. Encourage parents to read the Cygnets Childcare Family Support blog written for Cygnets Childcare Community and beyond.
• Reporting: Know the drill for reporting any online safety hiccups or incidents.

For Parents:

• Parental Controls: Use parental controls on devices to block inappropriate content. It’s like putting up a safety shield.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest safety tips and trends. Knowledge is power!
• Support: Encourage your child to talk to you if something feels off. Be their trusted confidant.

Creating a Safe Environment:

• Secure Networks: Ensure your internet connection is safe and has the right filters. Think of it as building a digital fortress.
• Device Management: Regularly check and update security settings on all devices. Keep those gadgets safe and sound.
• Digital Footprint: Teach kids about leaving a positive digital footprint. Their online actions are like their superhero legacy!

Encouraging Positive Behaviour:

• Respect: Promote kindness and respect in all interactions. Every hero should be kind!
• Critical Thinking: Encourage kids to think twice about the information they find. Not everything is as it seems.
• Balance: Help kids balance screen time with other activities. Even superheroes need a break!

Resources and Support:

• Websites: We will point Cygnets Childcare Redhill parents and practitioners to trustworthy websites for more online safety tips in the upcoming updates to this article and in a separate article called ''Trustworthy Online Resources for Early Years Children'
• Helplines: We will provide contact details for helplines and support services for any online safety worries in the upcoming updates to this article. you can also find some contact details in Cygnets Childcare Redhill Safeguarding Policy.
• Workshops: We are happy to organize fun workshops and info sessions for Cygnets Childcare parents and practitioners to chat about online safety. Please let us know if you wish us to arrange a workshop.

By working together, parents and practitioners can create a safe and fun environment for children to learn and grow. Remember, safeguarding is a team effort and an ongoing mission. If you have any more questions or need extra resources, don’t hesitate to reach out!