Online Tips for Parents/Carers

It’s likely everyone in your household is spending more time online right now. It’s a real asset for children of all ages whilst they can’t meet up with friends, have a kick about or go to training with their team.

Chances are individually or as a family you’ve accessed apps you hadn’t previously known existed. While social networking is proving to be really useful, it’s important we all apply the principles of appropriate boundaries online.

We’d ask all parents/carers to be particularly vigilant and supportive of children’s online activities at this time.
So, please check out the information we have provided for coaches/managers.
Is your child’s coach/manager following The FAs ‘Online Procedures for Coaches/ Managers' ?
Has the coach/manager asked you if your child can participate, have you been involved, do you need to be, does the session involve other players, is this invite from a coach/manager known to you?
Where does your child mainly access online content at home?

There are new opportunities springing up online weekly if not daily – would you know if your child has either seen or been invited to access coaching advice/tips by someone that’s not already connected to your child’s club? There may be some new and helpful opportunities – but don’t assume everyone will have thought through the safeguards children need and deserve online.

Children motivated by boredom could start to engage with new groups or individuals and this in turn could make them vulnerable to those looking to groom young people. Online grooming may be hard for parents /carers to recognise and groomers may specifically warn children not to talk to anyone about it. There are a number of signs to be aware of (although a lot of them are quite common amongst teens), but look out for increased instances of:

• Wanting to spend more and more time on the internet;
• Being secretive about who they are talking to online and what sites they visit;
• Switching screens when you come near the computer, tablet or phone;
• Possessing items – electronic devices or phones – you haven’t given them;
• Using sexual language, that you wouldn’t expect them to know;
• Becoming emotionally volatile. Groomers often target young people by sending out friend requests on popular sites and platforms to see who responds. They may strike up a conversation to build a relationship with a child and ask them to continue the chat privately.

In April 2020, the National Crime Agency (NCA) predicted an increase in online child sexual abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The NCA and UK policing arrest more than 500 child sex offenders and safeguard about 700 children each month.