Steps to protect our children online

Many children are using digital devices from the first years of their lives. Children can learn and develop important skills and behaviours with the right kinds of online games, apps and education programs. But there are risks, too – especially when devices can be connected to the internet. eSafety, an Australian-based organisation that provides a wide range of online safety programs and resources, sees the benefits and risks, and knows that it’s never too early to encourage good online habits.

eSafety has released a new booklet called Global online safety advice for young children, parents and carers. Based on eSafety’s popular eSafety Early Years content, it is adapted for an international audience.

The advice is available as both an e-book and editable PDF that can be localised with relevant in-country information and helplines/support agencies. All agencies are welcome to translate the advice, which is provided under a CC-BY licence, with attribution to the eSafety Commissioner.

It has also developed an online safety activity, in the form of a puzzle, to accompany the global online safety booklet, so parents and carers can learn together, along with their children. These Story Puzzles are a fun and engaging way for parents, carers and children to learn about a range of online safety issues and how to address them.

Please feel free to share this resource with your audiences and networks, including childcare centres, maternal health, nursing and doctors’ associations, children’s charities and parent groups.

This grant falls under Oak’s Prevent Child Sexual Abuse (PCSA) programme, and within that our priority funding area of safe digital environments, that works to support advocacy and regulation of the online space to protect children from sexual abuse. The WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online, which is supported by Oak through Ignite Philanthropy, is an international movement dedicated to national and global action to end the sexual exploitation of children online. It has assembled, for the first time, the influence, resources and expertise to transform how the crime of online child sexual abuse is dealt with worldwide, to deliver a vision of more victims safeguarded, more perpetrators apprehended and an end to online child sexual exploitation. The work described above by eSafety demonstrates some of the fruit of its efforts. Find out more here.

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