NSPCC want to know about the apps your kids use - share to win a £300 voucher.NOW CLOSED

[AmeliaMumsnet]

NSPCC says: “Most parents are brilliant at keeping their child safe in the physical world, through daily chats and reminders. It should be exactly the same in the online world too, so our #ShareAware campaign aims to get parents chatting to kids about their online lives, just like they would their day at school.These chats are made much easier if Mums and Dads understand their child’s online world – what games they like and the apps they use - and we’d recommend that parents explore the games and sites their child likes, alongside them.

“So to help you, NSPCC and O2 have created Net Aware. This site (and app) provides an overview of nearly 40 of the most popular apps and games used by young people. Our site and app will give the official age and the age which parents and young people think it’s appropriate for. It also provides tips from O2 Gurus on a range of topics, including privacy settings to adjust and the chance of risky content. For more information, you can visit Net Aware or download the Net Aware app on iOS or Android.”

Did you know that 1 in 4 8-11 year olds have a social networking account, despite the minimum age for most being 13? It can be difficult to understand your DC’s activity on games and apps, especially if you don’t know how to use them yourself. That’s why NSPCC want to know about the apps and games your DC use, and how you make sure they’re staying safe. Post on this thread with your hints and tips for talking about DC’s use of apps and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).
Whether you think Minecraft is a minefield, or you’re a pro Snapchatter, NSPCC want to know how involved you are with your DC’s apps and games. Post on the thread with your views about apps, whether or not you use them yourself, and share your tips for making sure your DC is using them safely.

One lucky MNer who posts on this thread will be randomly selected to win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks so much for taking part, and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

i found not commenting or interferring on their facebook page stops a lot of arguments in my house but i do silently watch in the background and check things out.

youtube

I'm not surprised that a lot of children use social networking and lie about their age. It does worry me, but my children are now young adults and are far more tech savvy than I am.

This is really only an issue with my eldest who is nine years old. The other two, six and three, don't really ever play apps that connect to the Internet so I feel safe in the fact that, as long as I have checked out the app, it's okay. However my eldest goes on Minecraft servers and uses the chat function. We've talked about it and I believe we're at the stage where I do just need to trust her but I do also sit next to her or look over her shoulder for 10 minutes to see what she's been writing. She knows that she has to let me see if I ask to. Definately no social networking accounts for her yet!

Cbeebies, Minecraft , you tube..... I'm most worried about you tube tbh.

My son is 5 and uses my old iPad. I've taken off internet and just left YouTube and YouTube Kids, plus some apps. He mostly watches YouTube kids as watching the Hobbykids unbox toys seems to be his 'thang'. Occasionally he'll watch YouTube if he needs a Power Rangers fix. Always under my supervision.

Apps he likes - Bugs and Numbers is great. Really educational and he enjoys. CBeebies Playtime is really good and again mostly educational. He loves Andys Dinosaurs and Swashbuckle. I love that it's grown with him - starting off with Mr Tumble when he was younger.

Woolly and Tig app was good for when he was younger - getting dressed, brushing teeth etc.

I'm a big social media user and very aware of the positives and negatives, having used it for charity awareness. It has a great power that can be harnessed for good, with great power comes ..... yes, great responsibility.

Mine older daughter users Minecraft - I have no idea how it works but she talks to me about what she does and I have talked to her about the dangers she might encounter whilst in the web and I think she knows enough for her age to be aware (I work in IT so am aware of what goes on maybe more than others) she has recently been allowed an email account to hat to friends she met whilst caming - but we have access and she is not allowed to log on without us being there. The younger ones use tocaboca apps which I have found to be good and age appropriate but mostly watched iplayer which I've set up to use the cbeeies app which is brilliant

DS isn't really old enough yet for apps to be a problem - he just plays the ceebeebies one.

My children are 10 and 14. They've been wanting Facebook accounts for years but have always been told that they are not allowed them until they are 13, never mind how many of their friends allegedly have them. There are lots of other online account that don't have this rule though, so the best way to keep control is spend some time with them when they are using their tablets or computers. I can then see who they are 'talking' to and query it if I feel any concern.

My little one loves the game Bejewelled, she's understanding the diamonds and symbols to match up. It's quite easy to keep track of what she's on as she won't go anywhere without me at the moment but I would put a password on my account for the app store so she wouldn't be able to use any that aren't already been installed by me!!

My eldest DS (11) has his own YouTube account and I monitor it regularly. He knows that I can check his phone at any time and understands that I'm making sure he's safe, and not just being nosy! He's not allowed any other social media account. My younger children (9 and 6) haven't got any accounts of their own.

I do not use any apps or social media but our teenage DSs occasionally do. They are pretty responsible though so I have no issues.

DD (6) has a kindle fire which is loaded with age appropriate games. She loved YouTube but I was wary with stories of dodgy versions Peppa Pig etc. She has access to Sky Kids instead now. If there is something she wants to watch on YouTube I have to be with her.

I limit their time on any device, talk them through the dos and don't, watch over them and have parental controls. Can never be too careful.

My daughter uses SnapChat and Instagram but she is closely monitored on both of these. She loves games and really likes Crossy Road.

I'm lucky that both of mine are now old enough but we did have strict parental controls in place when they were younger along with time restrictions. We also ensured that they knew the dangers of the internet and that if anyone asked strange questions they were to tell us straight away.

My DD likes to play computer games but we have set a limit to make sure schoolwork don't suffer.
I would explain about safety when surfing net. It's good to keep on checking what is doing.

My LO is 4 - so the only screen time he has at the moment is on my phone, through the YouTube kids app. I am dreading the time he gets old enough to have an interest in social media - I have largely opted out myself - no Twitter, Facebook or Instagram - so he's unaware of any of that at the moment.
I have a kindle, which he has a kids account on & we play games on there together - Pango, etc. It's nice to enjoy screen time together - discussing what we see & learning together.
When he is old enough (& I mean old enough as defined by that particular social media platform) to have his own accounts - I'll be having a serious talk with him about internet safety, & doing my research so I'm well informed & up to date on this as things change so fast, & so often - it's hard to keep up.
I want him to enjoy the benefits of the internet, but safely & under supervision.

My 7yr old uses snapchat just for the filter and was addicted to pokemon go but fortunately ran out of memory so the novelty wore off. She always asks me if anything pops up on the iPad or phone and has had internet safety talks in school

This would be perfect for my dad as he loves gardening and getting his grandkids interested in growing vegetables in his garden!

www.matalan.co.uk/product/detail/s2641448_c000/outdoor-granddad-hanging-sign-14cm-x-1cm-x-8cm-grey

We use kids YouTube for the little one and limit the amount of time she spends on it. My 12 year old has Instagram and Snapchat which I monitor obsessively if I'm honest, it's a scary time for kids to grow up.

My 5yo DC uses:

Jolly Phonics
The Toca collection
Sago mini
BBC Kids iPlayer.

These all seem fine - educational even. There are some other apps connected with products that I try and discourage as they're filled with ads. They're aimed at kids but I'd rather she didn't watch them anyway.

DS is 4 and was given a Kindle Fire at Christmas by his grandfather. He uses it for his favourite TV programmes and certain apps. I really like that we can add/remove apps as we see fit and the strict parental controls.

His favourites at the moment are the TOCA range and Thomas the Tank Engine puzzles.

Sometimes he'll use the YouTube kids app on my phone but never the regular YouTube.

My son has a Kindle but with the kids package so this only gives him access to child friendly apps. I don't therefore feel the need to be badgering him or asking him what he's up to all the time. He always asks me if things pop up on the odd time he has been on our tablet. I talk to him all the time about the dangers of inappropriate things and not making purchases.

games apps are allowed but restricted to certain times, no social media apps at the moment but as they get older I will have to give in as I know it's such a big thing these days and I dont't want them to feel left out