Jul 19 2007
Lucy Crossley
icBerkshire

PARENTS are heading back to school to help children stay safe while surfing the internet.


They have been going to classes at St Crispin’s School, London Road, Wokingham to find out what pupils are getting up to online.

The News was contacted about the Digital Parents scheme following last Thursday’s article where shocking statistics about children’s internet usage were revealed.

Digital Parents aims to educate adults about social networks such as MySpace and give them information to protect children.

Programme founder Toby Treacher,from dt3 - technology specialists and sponsors of Digital parents,had the idea after his company were asked by parents about setting up parental controls on their home computers.

He said: “We looked into it and nobody was aiming stuff at parents, it was all at either children or teachers.”

Mr Treacher said as children become more proficient at using the internet, computers will become the way information is delivered in schools and parents have to try to keep up.

He said: “The first step to ensuring children are safe online is to know about where they go.

“Once you know what’s possible, you can help your kids avoid the dangers,and still get the social benefits these websites can offer.”

Social networking sites allow users to post images and chat online.

But problems can arise when children disclose information which might compromise their safety.

Mr Treacher said: “Computers are not like television, on a computer it’s a two way conversation and as a parent you need to take an interest in what kids are looking at instead of just thinking ‘the computer keeps them quiet.”

The scheme, which started in March, has impressed users and Mr Treacher hopes other schools will take up the idea.

Bob Smith has two children at St Crispin’s, Jenna, in year 7 and Matthew, in year 9. He attended a Digital Parents session organised by the school.

Mr Smith said: “I couldn’t stop Jenna using these web-pages even if I wanted to.

“She still knows more than me about how to use them, but there are safety concerns that she just hadn’t thought of.

“She wasn’t doing anything wrong, she just hadn’t thought everything through.

“The session has given me some of the information I need to help her do that, without having to check up on her every moment.”

St Crispin’s headteacher Alex Biddle said: “Networking sites can be hugely positive.

“But parents and schools share a responsibility to help keep children safe online.”
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