Supporting Parents to Protect Children Online

12 July 2016, Rhyl – Book Online

This one day course aims to deliver a balanced, non-sensationalist approach to help professionals inform and support parents in protecting children when using the internet.   The course is aimed at a wide variety of practitioners working with children and families including those working for Families First, Communities First, Flying Start and foster carers.

Many parents today feel unable to protect their children online. They feel powerless when faced with a technology they do not fully understand while their children seem completely at home with hi- tech, web enabled gadgets. How can people working with families help parents to better protect their children?

With a constant flow of stories about online abuse in the media some parents may overreact restricting access to everything, while others just feel overwhelmed, keep their fingers crossed and hope it won’t happen to their child.  Is there a safe way for children to use the internet’s opportunities for learning and fun, while also avoiding the risks?  How can we help parents support their children’s safe use of modern technology?

The course will look at some of the real risks and dangers and debate the concerns, while also dispelling some of the myths and hoaxes.  There will be an opportunity for practitioners to discuss issues that parents are raising and to have some hands on experience at creating safe settings on some of the most popular devices used by children.

The course will explore:

• Real violence and online violence
• Talking to children about porn
• Possible addiction to online activities
• Social media, grooming and sexting
• Spotting warning signs of online abuse
• Grooming and radicalisation
• Censorship and identifying age appropriate materials
• Parental controls and how to set them

About the Trainer

Jon Trew is an experienced child protection trainer having delivered training to groups as diverse as housing maintenance staff, dentists and childcare workers. Jon has wide experience of working with children of all ages and backgrounds, having managed a children’s center, a nursery, an after school club and holiday play-care schemes.  As early as the 1990’s, Jon was an enthusiast for using computers to work with children as young as four and five and has continued to promote safe ways for young children to access the internet and other electronic media.  Jon has experience of working face to face with children as well as a deep understanding of the technical challenges it presents.  Jon said “A study in October 2011 found on average, the children who use computers started doing so at age 3 ½, while half of children under 8 in the US had access to a mobile device like a smartphone, an iPad or other tablet. The internet offers huge opportunities for our children to explore, learn and enjoy, however the benefits of this revolution are matched by threats and difficulties.  Waiting until children reach their early teens before we consider internet safety is just too late. Parents, teachers and all child care professionals must rise to this challenge and ensure they are able to guide, monitor and protect our children through this new age”.

Costs

Members:  £115

Non Members:  £135

This course is also offered as in-house training, please contact training@childreninwales.org.uk for more information.