This event, using material produced by the Care for the Family charity, provides a ninety-minute session made up of film clips and discussion questions. There will then be time for further discussion. The presentation “Left to their own devices” aims to provide parents with:

• greater knowledge and confidence, and practical ideas, to help their child navigate safely through the challenges of the online world
• Information about the potential dangers
• Strategies for using the internet together in a safe and positive way.

Whether our children are using apps, online gaming or social media, digital technology has many benefits, including building connections with other children and helping them to develop life skills in ways that were never previously possible. Despite this, parents can feel out of touch with their child’s online world. Many are concerned about how to protect them from dangers such as online bullying and pornography, and they worry over the sheer amount of time their children are spending on screens. Parents have a vital role to play in helping their children use the internet in a safe and positive way for them and the whole family – they are the biggest influence on their children’s lives.