This age group may find the opportunity to spend lots of extra time online, and on their devices, hard to manage. For those who are not yet 13 years old, they may feel extra pressure to join social media to stay in touch with friends. Use our activities below to help them manage their online lives, whilst spending more time at home.
We’ve selected a couple of activities from across our resources to help this group manage their time online, support each other and stay safe too.
1. Family tech check
Ask your child to take notes on what tech you have in your home, which devices have controls or filters on, and monitor how much time your family is spending on each one for a couple of days. Ask them to bring this information with them to a family discussion involving how you all use the internet, and what your guidelines should be. Our Family Agreement is an easy-to-use guide to having these conversations. By giving your child a key role, they will feel more empowered and invested in following the boundaries you agree together.
Download the Family Agreement here.
2. Online identity detectives
Ask for your child’s help in looking after your family’s online reputations. They could start by searching their name and those in your family online to see what results come up, or by looking through online gaming and social media accounts. Get them to work with each member of the family to help deactivate old accounts which they no longer use, remove contacts who they no longer wish to keep, and even delete old posts which may no longer be relevant, appropriate or represent who they are!
Find out more on how to control settings and keep information safe here.
3. An app a day
Why not use this time together to find out more about what your child likes to do online? Ask your child to run daily tutorials on a different app or game they like for a week. At the end they could write a quiz to test the family’s new-found knowledge.
4. Chatter box
Print off the origami Chatter Box template and follow the instructions to making the Chatter Box. You could also print out a blank Chatter Box and encourage your child to design their own using emojis, and logos of apps they like, and their own questions about online experiences. When the Chatter Boxes are finished it’s time to get those conversations started so encourage your child to use them with other people in your family, and even with other friends and family over a video call.
Download the Chatter Box template here. This is part of an Education Pack for Safer Internet Day 2019 that can be found here.
5. Watch our 2020 Film Competition entries and winners!
Our film competition this year saw some amazingly creative entries! If you have a budding film maker at home, why not have a go at creating your own online safety film. The competition will open again in 2021 and so now is the perfect time to hone your skills and try something new!