Who are our children talking to online, asks ISPCC as it launches new campaign ahead of Safer Internet Day 2024.

ISPCC has developed a new ad campaign alerting parents to the dangers of online grooming in the run up to Safer Internet Day on February 6.

One thing we know for sure is that the online landscape is ever-changing, and that’s a scary prospect for even the most tech-savvy of parents.

We have released a range of helpful articles and videos on our Digital Ready Hub, and Parenting Hub to help equip parents with the tools to teach their children how to stay safe when they’re online while also encouraging them not to fear new technology. 

We are also delighted to bring you this FREE webinar series to coincide with Safer Internet Day 2024. These webinars aim to support families and their young people to be safe online. 

Register below:

  • ‘Don’t teach your kids to fear the online world, teach them to navigate It’ Parents webinar, Wednesday, February 7, 7pm to 8pm. Click here to register
  • “Don’t fear the online world, navigate it’ Parents and young people webinar, Thursday, February 8, 7pm to 7.30pm. Click here to register

Parents, face your fears, teach your children to be safe online with FREE webinars from ISPCC

January 22, 2024

New year, new you, new evolutions in the online world. One thing we know for sure is that the online landscape is ever-changing, and that’s a scary prospect for even the most tech-savvy of parents. 

But ISPCC can help equip you with the tools to teach your children how to stay safe when they’re online while also encouraging them not to fear new technology. 

ISPCC parenting lead Siobhan Harvey and Niamh Clarke, Manager of ISPCC Smart Moves programme, are hosting a one-hour webinar designed to help parents to learn more about online safety and to develop the key skills necessary to support their child. 

But it is also important to involve your child in learning how to safely navigate online. So the following day, ISPCC is hosting a second, 30-minute webinar aimed at children aged 12 years and over accompanied by a parent.

The aim of this series of webinars is to help parents and carers to recognise ways to interact with your child’s online world and day-to-day experiences and to allow young people to discuss their feelings in a safe space.

Our goal is to encourage parents to reflect on how you might support your child to navigate the online world, as well as implement digital boundaries. We will provide guidance on how parents and young people can deal with cyberbullying and upsetting content online and we will offer practical solutions and tips to help your child stay safe online.

ISPCC’s webinars will provide a non-judgemental place to ask questions, while also offering key take-aways in bite-size, easily digestible chunks. 

We at ISPCC know only too well the importance of staying safe online. Children and young people tell us their concerns through our 24/7 Childline listening service, through our therapeutic services and through our Shield Anti-Bullying programme. 

We understand that parents, carers and young people are concerned that our increasing reliance on digital technologies are exacerbating feelings of anxiety and depression among our youth, and we’re here to listen and to help.

Webinar details are:  

  • Parents webinar, Wednesday, February 7, 7pm to 8pm. Click here to register
  • Parents and young people webinar, Thursday, February 8, 7pm to 7.30pm. Click here to register

ISPCC reveals that for many children in Ireland Christmas simply did not happen with over 1000 children reaching out to Childline over the Christmas period

Today (December 26th) will be one of busiest days of the year for Childline with data showing a 20% increase in contacts made to Ireland’s only 24-hour listening service for children and young people

Dublin, December 26th, 2023 – Childline, today (St. Stephen’s Day 2023), reveals that 1097 children and young people contacted Ireland’s only 24-hour listening service during Christmas*, representing an almost 20% increase in connections made this year compared with Christmas 2022.  The heartbreaking data complied over a three-day Christmas period (December 23rd, 24th and 25th) shows that: Many children did not have Christmas at all this year.

Children and young people are contacting Childline to talk about:

* Neglect 

* Bereavement 

* Emotional health

* Loneliness

Not every child or young person has the Christmas that they dream of and deserve. For too many, Christmas Day was just another day, nothing special, the same as any other. 

Data reveals that today, December 26th, will be one of the busiest days of the year for the staff and volunteers at Childline, as it is expected that over 400 children and young people will reach out to Ireland’s only 24/7/365-days-a-year listening service because of something that has happened to them over Christmas. 

ISPCC Chief Executive John Church said: “For too many children and young people, Christmas is sadly just another day. For some, the issues they encounter all year can worsen. It can mean abuse, neglect and loneliness. For others, Christmas can present new worries and concerns.  Whatever the reason, they turn to Childline for support and for someone to listen. We are so thankful to all our volunteers who gave their time and continue to do so across the festive period; they leave their own families at Christmas to ensure there is always someone on the other end of the line when a child or young person needs them.”

To support Childline and help keep volunteers listening to children and young people 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in 2024, please support the Childline Christmas appeal and visit https://donate.ispcc.ie/

*Christmas statistics refer to December 23, December 24 and December 25