Children’s internet safety organisation, Childnet International, today announced the launch of Know IT All for Parents aimed at helping parents better support their children’s positive and safe use of the internet.
Commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills, the interactive CD ROM will be distributed to 100,000 families who, over the next two years, will receive a computer as part of the Government’s Computers for Pupils initiative. This national programme aims to put computers into the homes of pupils who don’t have one, in order to give them the same opportunities as their peers. Crucial to the success of this roll-out has been the inclusion of the Know IT All for Parents high quality tutorial which helps parents understand both the educational benefits, as well as the risks of the internet.
In producing the interactive CD ROM Childnet consulted with a wide range of parents. These parents told Childnet that what would stop them from getting involved with their children on the internet was both their lack of computer experience, as well as not understanding enough about the benefits that the internet could bring them. For this reason the CD ROM contains a New to Computers section and a whole area about the positive ways in which the internet can help with everyday life including a child’s education.
The internet safety advice has already been translated into Bengali and Urdu and is presented by themes which relate to family life, for example shopping, downloading, chatting or finding things out. As more and more children are accessing the internet through their mobile phones, there is also a separate section covering safe mobile use.
A key aim of the CD ROM is to encourage parents to have a dialogue with their children about the internet; this is why the CD ROM includes an activity centre with quizzes and games that parents and children can do together. A unique feature of the CD ROM is the ability to design and print out a special internet use ‘Family Agreement’ certificate which the family has agreed in relation to safety and responsible use in the home.
Speaking at the launch event Stephen Carrick-Davies, CEO of Childnet said:
“Childnet’s earlier Know IT All for Schools pack was distributed to every secondary school in 2005 and used by other organisations to reach children and young people. However parents also need practical support and guidance and we are delighted to have completed this major project so that parents – of all levels of experience- can better relate to their children’s online world and promote safe and positive usage.”
Jim Knight Minister for Schools says,
“Computers for Pupils will make a significant change for the better to the families receiving a computer under this initiative and I would like to thank Childnet International for producing the Know IT All for Parents pack. This is a creative and inspiring resource that should help every parent to feel more confident that their children are safer online.”
David Wright, Manager of South West Grid for Learning which has been active in promoting Childnet’s resources to some 2,400 schools in the South West of England says
“Schools regularly ask us how they can effectively reach and support their parents with internet safety information. I believe that Know IT All for Parents is exactly what they have been waiting for.”
The CD ROM links to a wide range of safety organisations where parents can report their concerns. These include The Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre and The Internet Watch Foundation. The CD also contains practical resources including advice from the Music Industry on a free piece of software known as ‘Digital File Check’ which helps parents ensure that their children are not using the internet to download entertainment files illegally. There is also advice from the mobile operator Orange for parents about using mobiles safely.
Childnet hopes that following the successful roll out of Know IT All for Parents on the Computers for Pupils programme, that it can work with other organisations and companies to make the CD ROM available to every parent in the UK.
For further information about Know IT All for Parents and a chance to see some of the video content on the CD please visit:
www.childnet-int.org/kia
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information about this press release, please contact:
Mary Louise Morris Project Manager tel 0774 0369 806 or email
Stephen Carrick-Davies (CEO) tel 0771 2451 859 or email
About Childnet International:
Childnet International is a registered charity, (no 1080173) set up in 1995 – with the mission to work in partnership with others around the world to help make the internet a great and safe place for children. The organisation seeks to take a balanced view of the issues of children and the internet and is active in seeking to promote the positive ways in which the internet can be used by children for social benefit. For example see www.childnetacademy.org
Childnet is also involved in responding to the negative aspects of children’s use of new media and has produced award-winning education and awareness programmes such as its www.kidsmart.org.uk for schools. For full information about the charity see www.childnet-int.org.
For further information about the DfES Computers for Pupils initiative visit:
www.teachernet.gov.uk/computersforpupils
or email
About Computers for Pupils:
The Computers for Pupils initiative was launched in 2006 by the Department for Education and Skills. The project aims to put computers into the homes of pupils who don’t have one, in order to give them the same opportunities as their peers. Having a computer in the home can help with homework, motivate pupils to learn and help develop technical and life skills which can benefit the whole family and wider community.
