Question:

I have a son who is almost 6 years old. He is open and trusting to everyone he meets. At which age, and how, should I tell him that there are people out there who do not have good intentions, and that if anything should happen to him, he has to tell me?

Answer from Kids and Media’s Director:

Children are curious and trusting, and I believe that they should be allowed to and get space to be just that – also in a new media world. However, it is equally important to ensure that children are safe.

It is quite common that children start using the Internet at an early age – often sometime between the ages of 5 to 7. In the beginning it might be a good idea that you as a parent define which sites your child can visit, and place the computer in a common area so that adults are around when he or she is online.

Until the child reaches the age of 10 I believe it is appropriate that parents are general rather than specific when talking with their children about the challenges and uncomfortable experiences they might encounter online. Make clear agreements with the child on what to do if they experience something unpleasant.

At the ages between 10 and 12, many children begin to discover and use the social opportunities available through the Internet and mobile media. At this point it becomes important to talk about what it is all right to do, who you spend time with online, and so on, in order to ensure that they are using the media in a safe and an aware way.

Many parents are, in my experience, caught off guard by how early and the large extent to which children meet the culture of young people and adults online and on the mobile. It is far better to be a little early rather than too late in preparing your child, but remember to take the child’s personality into account. Try to create confidence, not uncertainty.

Related articles on kidsandmedia.co.uk:

Introducing children to the Internet

Tips for parents on safe net use

Age-based guidelines for kids' Internet use

Teach kids online security basics

How to teach children to do searches online