Summary

Internet Safety Seminars for parents to educate them on how to protect their children online.

Type of intervention

Classroom setting

Target groups, level of prevention and subgroups

• Communities and Families | Primary prevention | Adults (21+ years) | Male and female | Classroom setting | English

Target population

Parents, carers and teachers of school age children

Delivery organisation

This programme is delivered by child protection charity, The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, UK.

Mode and context of delivery

The Internet Safety Seminars take place in schools and last for approximately two hours, which includes discussions and questions. The seminar is a verbal presentation with the aid of power point slides and short films. The seminar is not a technological presentation but is aimed at teaching parents, carers and teachers about both the benefits and the risks presented by new technologies and the internet and about how to keep their children safe. The material used is compiled by staff who deliver the seminars. It is obtained via a number of sources including publicly available material from other organisations (statutory; NGO; industry). The presentations are regularly reviewed and updated to keep abreast of changes in information, technology and research.

Level/nature of staff expertise required

The Internet Safety Seminars are delivered by staff from The Lucy Faithfull Foundation who have different roles within the organisation and varied experience. They include practitioners with backgrounds in social work, probation, police or psychology. It is important that those who deliver the seminars have up to date knowledge of the internet and the possible risks posed to children and are able to point adults in the right direction with regard to communication with their children and available resources.

Intensity/extent of engagement with target group(s)

The Internet Safety Seminar is a single session lasting for two hours, depending on the level of involvement of the audience. It is usually desirable, that the school have had some children’s Internet Safety Seminars prior to the adults’ presentations, so that information gained can be highlighted and shared with the parents, carers and teachers. It can be quite illuminating to find out about their children’s behaviour online in comparison to what the parents and carers believe they have been accessing online.

Description of intervention

The aim of the Internet Safety Seminar is for parents/carers to acknowledge the tremendous benefits of the new technologies but also to understand the risks surrounding these technologies and to get practical, non-technical, advice on steps they can take to keep their children safe.

The presentation covers:

• The benefits of using the internet
• Raising awareness about inappropriate (sexual) content and contacts that children might come across online and ways it might happen
• Child friendly search engines that will not lead children to unsafe sites
• Advice and strategies about keeping children safe online, with details of where to go for further information and support
• Cyber bullying and its effects
• Online gaming
• ‘Sexting’ what it is and potential implications

Advice is given on:

• How to help children understand the importance of not giving out personal information
• The difference between real world friends and ‘online friends’
• The importance of communication and ensuring that their children are encouraged to talk to a parent/carer or trusted adult if anything or anyone is causing concern
• How to get involved in their child’s on-line activity such as getting them to explain how certain things on the internet work
• How to plan for the optimum safety of children and young people online

Evaluations

The audience is asked to submit their feedback by completing evaluation forms at the conclusion of the seminar.

References

No references available.

Contact details

Lucy Faithfull Foundation

2 Birch House
Harris Business Park
Hanbury Road
Stoke Prior
Bromsgrove
B60 4DJ

Tel: 01527 591922
https://www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk/

INFORMATION CORRECT AT MARCH 2021

RATING: Pioneering