Guide to activities for kids online Other activities

Games are a great form of entertainment

Gaming

Games consoles such as the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 or Sony PlayStation 3 are a great form of entertainment. 

The games can be informative and educational too, as well as encouraging lateral thinking when trying to solve puzzles, for instance, or good hand-eye coordination. 

Other games, such as the PC-based game Second Life, involve immersing yourself in a 3D world that has its own currency and lifestyle.

What are the risks of online gaming?

• Many console games allow interaction with other players around the world via an internet connection.
• There’s a risk of internet addiction and repetitive strain injury, particularly with quest-based games that seem to go on forever. Players should balance their gaming activity with other interests and take regular breaks.

The Xbox parental control settings let you turn off voice chat or mask a child’s voice so it sounds like an adult's or robot's. Chatroom guidelines apply to games that involve communicating with others.

Almost everyone uses email in some way

Emails

Virtually everyone who uses the internet uses email in some shape or form. It’s a cheap, quick way to keep in touch. But unsafe attachments, junk mail and hoax and chain emails can hamper your child’s email experience.

Most social networking sites have an internal email system that lets people send messages to each other from within the website. These can usually be set to block messages from unwanted contacts.

If your child uses a traditional email system, it will be virtually impossible to avoid spam emails. Some email accounts have built in spam filters that will send suspicious looking emails straight to a junk folder.

What are the risks of email?

• Spam and phishing scams can lead to unwitting victims handing over personal details that can be used by criminals to commit identity theft. Children should be discouraged from opening and replying to emails when they don’t know the sender.
• Opening attachments from unknown sources could also lead to malicious software infecting your computer.

For safer surfing, use a search engine's family-friendly mode

Search engines

A search engine allows you to search for information on the internet. All major search engines have a family-friendly mode, found in the website’s preferences – this will block adult websites and images from appearing in search results.

Google says its SafeSearch mode should filter out most age-inappropriate sites, but points out that no filter is foolproof.

Your kids can use alternative search engines that have pre-vetted website indexes, including Ask Kids. Children are safe to use the search boxes found within trusted mainstream sites, such as the BBC website.

What are the risks of search engines?

• Search engines can allow children to access inappropriate material.
• Once you have your search results, you should download files from recognised and legitimate sources only. Unfamiliar websites could link to virus-ridden files. You can prevent your child from downloading files by using parental control software.

Sharing copyrighted files is illegal

File sharing

It’s easy to download games, music or TV shows using legitimate tools such as iTunes or BBC iPlayer. But there is even more pirated content floating around the internet that’s being shared illegally.

BitTorrent provides a way of exchanging large files across multiple computers using programs such as LimeWire. If your child frequently shares, or uploads, copyright-protected content with others, you could be the one paying the hefty fine when they’re caught.

Virgin Media and several other providers have teamed up with the British Phonographic Industry to warn customers who may have been illegally sharing copyright-protected music.

What are the risks of file sharing?

• Apart from the legal implications for uploading data, there’s a virus risk if files from unknown sources are downloaded. Plus you could go over your download limit and risk extra charges from your internet service provider.
• It’s important to outline out all the risks to your child. Consider using security software or parental control tools to prevent or limit the use of file-sharing applications.

For tips on keeping children safe online, read our report on child internet safety.