Being Safe Online (REPOST)
Do you have a technology plan in your home?
Being safe online! REPOST
Friendship issues are challenging at any age. Some students at SPS are not coping particularly well with the effects of this unrest and as a result, their ability to focus and learn is being impacted. From discussions with various students and staff and parents, it has become apparent that social media has played a part in the problems we are dealing with during school time.
In order to best assist our students in putting past hiccups behind them and take positive steps towards a happy future, we as a staff are seeking your support and assistance. Together, we can help to repair relationships and avoid online altercations so that learning can once again become the focus while at school.
I would be grateful for your consideration of the following suggestions;
- Review the age restrictions for any social media site your child is signed up to. These guidelines have been put in place by experts to protect children from harm – Children under the age of 13 are not yet equipped with the social and emotional skills to process online interactions appropriately. Please consider the risks you are exposing your child to by allowing them into a teenage / adult social world prematurely.
- Remove or restrict access to these sites by actively supervising or removing access to them.
- Monitor bedtime routines and sleep patterns. Many of these students are tired at school. They may be emotionally exhausted or tired from using devices until late at night. Consider an appropriate time to hand in devices and choose to read or do something creative until bedtime. We all function better with adequate sleep.
- Listen and talk. Get your child to talk to you about what’s on their mind. Remember there are always two sides to a story and your child will relay their version and not necessarily give you an accurate account of what else has been going on. Be open minded in your response to their worries and concerns. The THINK acronym was actually created to help guide appropriate online behaviour, but all of these elements of THINK can be applied to everyday life, and can prevent unpleasant fall outs as well as build positive relationships.
- Seek further assistance if your child is particularly upset or not coping. The school has social workers from Royal Flying Doctors visit fortnightly and the school psychologist visits fortnightly too. We also have access to DoE social workers, however if you are particularly concerned about a current issue, then Kids Helpline is always on the end of a phone or the click of a keyboard!
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Some useful links include:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/esafety-guide
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/skills-advice/are-they-old-enough
Kind regards,
Kristy Hay
Principal