Digital Wellbeing: A Focus on Online Safety in Primary

This term, our Primary students have been focusing on Digital Wellbeing in our PSHE lessons. We believe that it is essential for our young students to understand the importance of responsible online behaviour and to develop healthy digital habits.

One of the key topics we have explored is the concept of digital footprints. Just like a physical footprint, every action we take online leaves a digital trace. This can include social media posts, online searches, and even deleted content. It's important to recognise that once something is posted online, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to remove.

To help our students understand this concept, we did a creative activity where they decorated outlines of footprints with all the apps, social media platforms, and games they've accessed online. This exercise helped them visualise the extent of their digital presence and the lasting impact of their online actions.

In addition to digital footprints, we have also discussed the importance of age restrictions and screen time limits. Many apps and platforms have age recommendations, and it's crucial to ensure that our children are using them appropriately. Setting screen time limits can help prevent excessive online activity and promote a healthy balance between online and offline pursuits.

Our Year 5 and 6 students have even created a video summarising what they've learned about digital wellbeing this term.

We encourage parents to support our efforts by discussing digital wellbeing with their children and setting appropriate guidelines for online use. Together, we can help our students develop the skills and knowledge they need to be safe and responsible digital citizens.