MENU Pre-school (0-5) Online safety advice More and more pre-schoolers are getting their own tablets or borrowing their parents’ devices to play games, use apps, and watch their favourite TV shows. See advice on simple things you can do to make sure they’re using the internet safely. WHAT'S NEW? SEE ONLINE SAFETY GUIDE Display video transcript You are in: 0-5s online safety age guide What you’ll find in this section Internet safety checklist Why it matters: Facts and stats Online issues that affect pre-schoolers Parent guides Activities to do together Age-specific apps Related article and resources What's New? How can I make socialising online safer for my family? READ ARTICLE Gaming guide to support pre-schoolers SEE GUIDE Balancing screen time - tips to support pre-schoolers SEE GUIDE Internet safety checklist for pre-school children Use our list of practical tips to help children under-5s have a safer online experience and get the best out of the digital world as they grow. You’ll also find a range of helpful tools and expert tips for further support. Checklist: Supporting 0-5-year-olds online Explore together Talk to your child about what the internet is and explore it together so you can show them all the great fun and educational things they can do. Reassure them that if they see anything upsetting, they should come and talk to you. Be involved Encourage them to use devices in the same room as you so you can keep and an eye on how they’re using the internet. Stay inquisitive about what they are doing and encourage them to share their enjoyment with you. Put yourself in control Activate parental controls on your home broadband. Most Internet-enabled devices also offer parental controls. For example, Microsoft Windows, Apple iOS, and Google’s Android all offer ways to control the apps and sites your child can visit. Search safely If you let your child search independently, make sure safe search settings are activated on Google and other search engines or set the default to one designed especially for children such as Swiggle. Use passwords Keep your devices out of reach and set passwords on all your internet-enabled devices and don’t share them. Then you’ll know when and where your child is accessing the internet. Also, use passwords to make sure they’re not making additional purchases when they’re playing games or using apps. Visit our how-to guides to find out how. Use age-appropriate sites and apps Choose safe, fun, and educational sites and apps for your child. Use age ratings in the app stores to check suitability. Make use of platforms and services designed with children in mind like YouTube Kids, Sky Kids, BBC iPlayerKids, and Nick Jr. See our Top kids TV apps for safer viewing for more advice. Set boundaries It’s never too early to start setting boundaries. Set some rules about how they use connected technology, including which apps and sites they can use and how long they can spend on them. We’ve created a family agreement template that you can use to get started. Why it matters: Facts & Stats Screen time On average 3 to 4-year-olds spend over 6 hours online a week Device use of 3-4-year-old have their own device Rise in concern Fewer parents of 3 to 4 year-olds agree that ‘the benefits of the internet outweigh the risks’ Research See our parenting digital natives report to get more insights into parents’ concerns about their children’s digital lives. SEE REPORT Featured recommended resources Sharing tips for parents Managing screen time guide Set up safe checklist Digiduck story app for 3 - 7s What issues might affect pre-schoolers? Inappropriate content Online pornography Here are some of our favourite resources to help you learn more about digital wellbeing and online safety for the youngest of children. We’ve also highlighted some fun and educational apps to get them learning online. (Click the bar to expand to see the resources.) Guides and resources for parents Online safety activities to do with your child Apps to encourage learning, creativity, and development Find related advice, articles, and resources Choose filters to narrow your search See a broad range of age-specific resources to help children stay safe online. Use the filter to sort the resources you'd like to see. Filter App & Device safety Online Gaming Bullying Digital Wellbeing Inappropriate content Data & Privacy Screen time General online safety Vulnerable children Online peer pressure Sexting Online grooming Online Pornography Piracy Social and sharing Best of the net Fake news Self-harm Radicalisation By Topic Sort by Most recent | Featured Articles Why we are encouraging the set up of parental controls this festive season Samantha Ebelthite from Electronic Arts explains the importance of setting parental controls before the gaming starts this festive season with the new campaign featuring comedian Katherine Ryan. Samantha Ebelthite from Electronic Arts explains the ... 19 likes READ MORE Research NEW Uncovered: Online Hate Speech in the Covid Era Ditch the Label's new report delves into the prevalence of hate speech between 2019 and 2021, including anti-Asian racism, which increased by 1662% in 2020 compared to 2019. 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However, reports of children imitating Squid Game are a source of concern for many. The new series is making headlines as ... 5 likes READ MORE Resource The Digitally Smart Guide — LEGO LEGO has released a series of online guides to help you and your child live digitally smart lives. LEGO has released a series of online ... 5 likes READ MORE SEE RESOURCE Articles What is the Age-Appropriate Design Code? Michael Murray from the ICO discusses the Age-Appropriate Design Code, or Children's Code, including its impact, how it works, and next steps. Michael Murray from the ICO discusses the ... 16 likes READ MORE Resource The Big Ask: The Big Answer — Children’s Commissioner for England In response to The Big Ask, a survey that asked children their thoughts on improving their lives, the Children's Commissioner for England has now published the results in the form of The Big Answer. In response to The Big Ask, a ... 8 likes READ MORE SEE RESOURCE Showing 8 of 325 results LOAD MORE ONLINE ISSUES Cyberbullying Inappropriate content Sexting Self-harm Screen time Radicalisation Online grooming Online pornography Online reputation Privacy and identity theft ADVICE BY AGE Pre-school (0-5) Young children (6-10) Pre-teen (11-13) Teens ( 14+) SETTING CONTROLS Smartphones and other devices Broadband & mobile networks Gaming platform & other devices Social media privacy guides Entertainment & search engines Connecting Safely Online RESOURCES My Family’s Digital Toolkit The dangers of digital piracy Digital resilience toolkit Social media advice hub Guide to apps Online gaming advice hub Accessibility on Internet Matters SCHOOLS RESOURCES Early years resources Primary school resources Secondary school resources Parent pack for teachers NEWS & OPINION Our expert panel #StaySafeStayHome support for families Follow us Want to read in other language? 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