In today’s world, many of our early years children are already familiar with tablets, smartphones and other devices – whether they have their own or borrow from parents to play games, use apps and watch their favourite shows. While technology offers fantastic learning opportunities, it’s essential that we help our young children develop safe digital habits from the very beginning.
The guidance in this post draws upon expert advice from InternetMatters.org, Parentkind and other resources. We’ve posted some useful links at the bottom of this post.
Simple Steps for Digital Safety with Early Years Children
Start With Exploration Together The internet can be an amazing place for learning and fun! Talk to your child about what the internet is and explore it together. Show them all the great educational content available whilst reassuring them that if they ever see anything that makes them feel uncomfortable, they should always come and talk to you.
Keep Control With Passwords One of the simplest safety measures is keeping devices secure. Store devices out of reach when not in use and set passwords on all your devices without sharing them. This way, you’ll always know when and where your child is accessing the internet. Passwords also prevent accidental purchases when children are playing games or using apps.
Stay Involved and Present Encourage your child to use devices in the same room as you so you can keep an eye on how they’re exploring online. Stay curious about what they’re doing and encourage them to share their discoveries and enjoyment with you. This creates natural opportunities for guidance and discussion.
Choose Age-Appropriate Content Select safe, fun and educational sites and apps designed specifically for young children. Always check age ratings in app stores and make use of child-friendly platforms like YouTube Kids, Sky Kids, BBC iPlayer Kids, and Nick Jr. These services are designed with little ones in mind and offer safer viewing experiences.
Set Up Parental Controls Activate parental controls on your home broadband and on individual devices. Most internet-enabled devices offer built-in parental controls – including Microsoft Windows, Apple iOS, and Google’s Android systems. These controls help filter inappropriate content and manage what your child can access.
Establish Healthy Boundaries Early It’s never too early to start setting gentle boundaries around technology use. Create simple rules about which apps and sites your child can use and how long they can spend on them. Consider creating a family agreement about screen time that works for your household.
Building Positive Digital Habits
Be a Good Digital Role Model Remember that your child in the early years is watching and learning from your technology habits too. Practice mindful device use during family time, show respect for others online, and demonstrate healthy boundaries like putting devices away during meals or before bedtime.
Focus on Quality Over Quantity Rather than worrying solely about how much screen time your child has, focus on ensuring the content is educational, creative and engaging. Encourage active participation rather than passive watching, and balance screen time with plenty of offline activities.
Keep Communication Open Even with children in the early years, maintaining open, age-appropriate conversations about their digital experiences is important. Ask about their favourite apps and games, listen without judgment, and use these moments as opportunities to reinforce safety messages.
Key Safety Reminders for Children
- Never share personal information like your name, address or school online
- If something online makes you feel scared, sad or confused, tell a grown-up straight away
- Only use apps and websites that your parents have said are okay
- Be kind to others online, just like you would in person
Resources for Parents
For more comprehensive guidance on parental controls and keeping children safe online, these tips come from InternetMatters.org, which offers detailed guides and support for families navigating the digital world.
Remember, the goal isn’t to avoid technology altogether, but to help our children develop healthy, safe relationships with digital tools that will serve them well as they grow. By starting these conversations and habits early, we’re giving our early years children the foundation they need to be confident, safe digital citizens.
If you have questions about digital safety or would like to discuss your child’s technology use, please don’t hesitate to speak with our staff. We’re here to support you and your family in all aspects of your child’s development, including their digital wellbeing.
Guide for Parents and Carers
More Useful Links
Thinkuknow by the National Crime Agency – Child Exploitation and Online Protection command (NCA-CEOP) – resources for parents and carers and children of all ages to help keep children safe online
Childnet has developed guidance for parents and carers to begin a conversation about online safety, as well as guidance on keeping under-fives safe online
Parent Info is a collaboration between Parent Zone and NCA-CEOP – support and guidance for parents and carers related to the digital world from leading experts and organisations
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) – guidance for parents and carers to help keep children safe online
UK Safer Internet Centre – tips and advice for parents and carers to keep children safe online – you can also report any harmful content found online through the UK Safer Internet Centre
Inclusive Digital Safety Hub and Online Safety Hub, created by South West Grid for Learning in partnership with Internet Matters – support and tailored advice for young people with additional learning needs and their parents or carers
Parents’ Guide to Age Ratings explains how the British Board of Film Classification rates content, and gives parents advice on choosing online content well
The Children’s Commissioner has published advice for parents on talking to your child about online sexual harassment specifically, based on input from children themselves