The Online Safety Parent Toolkit is a simple and practical seven step framework to help parents with digital parenting in a rapidly changing world. It explains the online challenges young people are likely to encounter, how to best support them and what you can do to teach your child to have a safer online experience.

The Toolkit gives every parent and caregiver access to the support they need to teach their kids how to access digital opportunities and reduce harm. Netsafe have designed the Toolkit to overcome any perceived or real technology knowledge gaps between what parents know and what their child knows – or thinks they know.

By working through the framework, parents will get to a place where they can confidently speak to their children about their activities and help them avoid or minimise possible harm.

WHAT ARE THE SEVEN STEPS OF THE ONLINE SAFETY PARENT TOOLKIT

At the heart of the Online Safety Parent Toolkit is a seven step framework that guides parents through online safety conversations with their child. It helps parents to:

1. Understand potential risks, challenges and sometimes illegal behaviours

2. Learn about their tamariki’s activities

3. Explore for themselves the technology their child uses

4. Agree and set expectations as a family on what to do online

5. Teach basic online safety concepts

6. Model the behaviours you want to see your child use

7. Plan what to do if things go wrong

WHAT IS IN THE ONLINE SAFETY PARENT TOOLKIT

Netsafe has assembled in one easy to use toolkit all the things parents consistently say they want to know about in the online safety space. From online bullying to grooming to social media to sexting and screen time – Netsafe has collated information, advice and tips to equip parents, whānau and caregivers with the skills to support their young people.

WHO CAN USE THE ONLINE SAFETY PARENT TOOLKIT

Netsafe’s Parent Toolkit is guided by the whakataukī Ko te mahi a te tamariki, he wāwāhi tahā (the activities of children break calabashes). Tamariki and rangatahi are naturally inquisitive and making mistakes and encountering risk is often part of exploring.

The Toolkit can be used by anyone – from parents who are already helping their child with their online activities through to parents who are new to digital parenting. Parents and whānau have a responsibility to guide young people in their online activities in an open and safe way and our advice will help you navigate digital parenting.

CONTACT NETSAFE

If you’re concerned about the immediate safety of you or someone else, please call 111. If you want help or expert incident advice, you can contact Netsafe. Their service is free, non-judgemental and available seven days a week.

• Email help@netsafe.org.nz

• Call toll free on 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723)

• Online report at netsafe.org.nz/report

• Text ‘Netsafe’ to 4282