The eSafety Commissioner has joined with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Alannah & Madeline Foundation to launch a new early childhood online safety education initiative.
Playing IT Safe aims to help parents, carers and educators teach infants, toddlers and pre-school children basic technology and online safety concepts.
The program hosts play-based activities, games and resources for parents, carers and educators to use when introducing technology and online safety to young children.
Research from eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant has found that 81 per cent of parents with pre-schoolers say their children are already using the Internet.
“This creates potential challenges including exposure to inappropriate content, creating self-generated child sexual exploitation material or unwanted contact through interactive apps or games,” Ms Inman Grant said.
“Playing IT Safe provides an introduction to technology and online safety, through preventative messaging, a series of play-based digital and offline activities that young children can undertake in an early learning setting with educators, and at home with parents and carers.”
She said the site encouraged parents and carers to engage with children in fun, interactive and age-appropriate ways to better help them understand technology, as well as create and develop a foundation for good online safety skills that will stay with them as they grow.
“Educators will be able to access information and resources developed by early childhood education and online safety experts,” Ms Inman Grant said.
“Early engagement is critical to laying the fundamental building blocks for safer online practices throughout a child’s online journey.”
The new education resource can be accessed at this PS News link.
