Kidschat.net

Explore our Net Aware reviews to help find an app, site or game that might be more suitable for your child. Here are some things you might want to look out for:

• Age ratings
• Parental controls
• Chat features

Once you’ve had a look at our reviews, you might want to sit down with your child and agree some rules around which apps or sites they can use.

While there are risks with most online platforms, we would recommend only letting your child use apps that have privacy settings and a report and block function.

For lots of kids gaming is a way they can stay connected with friends. While playing games with other people is a more sociable way to be online, it’s important to check in regularly with your child about who they’re talking to.

Lots of gaming platforms have chat functions that let you to talk to people you don’t know. Make sure to check the communication features on the games your child plays and explore the safety features available.

We would recommend they only chat to friends they have actually met , like their school friends or people they know from other offline activities.

If it’s a game your child has been playing for a while you might want to ask them whether they’ve joined any new chats or forums. Have a conversation with them about the types of things they’re discussing and what is appropriate to share.

Make sure you check in with your child regularly about who they’re talking to on their favourite games. Remind them that conversations should only be about the game, and if someone starts asking them other questions or suggests they speak using another app like Snapchat or Instagram they should tell you.

Help your child think about what they share online and who sees it. Compare it to what they would be happy to share offline.

Use examples that are easy for them to understand: “You shouldn't give your number to somebody you don't know on the street. Is somebody online you don't know any different?”

Listen to their answers. And be positive and encouraging.

Remind them that they shouldn’t share private things, such as:

• personal information, like names, emails, phone numbers, location and school names
• other people's personal information
• links to join private group chats
• photos of themselves
• photos of their body, such as sexual photos or videos.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) helps keep children safe from online grooming. If you suspect it is an adult who is in contact with your child and they are behaving inappropriately then you should report this to the CEOP.

If your child sees something online that upsets or worries them it’s important that you both know where you can get further support.

If you’re worried about your child or need advice you might want to call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.

Encourage your child to look at the Childline website, which has a range of great advice articles:

• Feeling good on social media
• Coping with stress
• Worries about the world

Childline’s Calm zone is also packed with tools and activities to help your child de-stress and discover news techniques that can support them when they’re feeling down. Young people can also talk about their worries with others on the Childline message boards.