Keeping Little Ones Safe in a Digital World: The Role of Early Years Providers

This week is Safer Internet Day, a global event that highlights the importance of making the online world a safer place- and yes, that includes for our youngest learners too!

When we think about internet safety, we often picture older children using social media or playing online games. But the reality is, even in the early years, children are exposed to the digital world every single day, whether it’s watching cartoons on a tablet, seeing their parents use smartphones, or even interacting with smart speakers like Alexa.

As early years providers, we have a statutory duty to keep children safe online. Online safety is part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) safeguarding requirements, meaning we have a legal responsibility to protect children from potential digital risks, just as we would from physical dangers.

So, how do we teach something as abstract as internet safety to children as young as 0-4 years old? In this blog, I’ll share:

✔️ Why early years providers play a key role in online safety
✔️ Engaging, age-appropriate activities to introduce digital awareness
✔️ Practical steps and policies to keep children safe in your setting
✔️ Reliable resources to help families manage online safety at home

Let’s explore how we can lay the foundations for safe, healthy digital habits from the start!

Why Online Safety Starts in Early Years

Keeping children safe is at the heart of what we do. But safety today isn’t just about outdoor risks, it also includes guiding children through their first interactions with technology.

Here’s why this matters:

🔹 Screens are part of everyday life – Children see digital devices daily, even if they don’t use them independently yet.
🔹 They need to learn about trust – Just as we teach children about ‘stranger danger’ in real life, they need to understand that not everything they see on a screen is real.
🔹 It encourages healthy screen habits – Setting boundaries early helps children develop a positive relationship with technology.
🔹 It’s part of our safeguarding role – The EYFS framework requires us to protect children from potential online risks, just as we would from physical dangers.

Now, let’s look at practical, play-based ways to introduce safe digital habits to our youngest learners.

 

Making Online Safety Easy for Little Learners

Explaining "online risks" to a toddler isn’t exactly straightforward! Instead, we can introduce key ideas through play, songs, and simple discussions that fit into everyday learning.

1. Screen Time or Story Time? (The Magic Window Activity)

💡 Teaches: The difference between real life and what’s on a screen.

Hold up a real mirror and ask children: "What happens when you look in this mirror?" (They’ll say, "I see me!")

Now, hold up a tablet or phone screen and ask: "What happens when we look at a screen? Is it real like the mirror, or is it just a picture?"

This introduces the idea that screens show us pictures, but they aren’t always real, an important first step in media awareness.

2. Stop, Look, and Ask! (The "Grown-Up Check" Song)

💡 Teaches: Always check with a trusted adult before using a device.

Before using a screen together, sing a short song (to the tune of a nursery rhyme) to reinforce safe habits:

🎶 Before I tap, before I swipe, I ask a grown-up if it’s right! 🎶

This simple habit helps children remember to check before using technology, just like they learn to stop before crossing the road.

3. Teddy’s Big Screen Adventure (A Role-Play Story)

💡 Teaches: Why we need balance between screen time and other activities.

Use a teddy or puppet to act out a mini story:

🐻 Teddy watches his favourite show but forgets to play outside.
🐻 Now Teddy feels grumpy and tired!
🐻 But when Teddy puts the screen away and plays, he feels happy again.

This activity helps children understand the importance of screen breaks in a way that feels fun and relatable.

4. Oops or Okay? (Sorting Safe vs. Unsafe Choices)

💡 Teaches: Basic online safety awareness.

Create simple picture cards with scenarios like:

✅ A child watching a video with a grown-up
❌ A child pressing buttons on a phone without asking
✅ A child turning off a screen when it’s time to play
❌ A child feeling sad after too much screen time

Ask: "Oops or Okay?" and let children sort them into the right categories. This helps build safe decision-making skills through play.

How Childminders & Early Years Settings Can Promote Online Safety

As early years providers, we must not only educate children but also protect them through clear policies and best practices. Here are the key steps to take:

📜 Device & Screen Time Policy – Outline when and how technology is used in your setting.
📸 Photo & Social Media Policy – Ensure written consent is obtained before sharing any images of children.
🔐 Safe Device Use – If children have access to digital devices, enable parental controls and disable autoplay to prevent unsuitable content.
📚 Staff Training & Updates – Stay informed about the latest online safety advice from NSPCC, UK Safer Internet Centre, and Childnet.

By putting these measures in place, we create a safe, structured approach to digital use in early years settings.

Helping Parents Navigate Online Safety at Home

Many parents worry about screen time and online risks but aren’t sure where to start. As early years professionals, we can support them by sharing trusted resources:

📌 UK Safer Internet Centre – www.saferinternet.org.uk – Clear, practical advice on online safety.
📌 NSPCC Online Safety Hub – www.nspcc.org.uk – Guidance on privacy settings, parental controls, and online risks.
📌 Internet Matters – www.internetmatters.org – Family-friendly tips on screen time and digital safety.
📌 BBC Own It – www.bbc.com/ownit – Interactive resources to help children develop safe digital habits.

By sharing these expert-backed resources, we help parents feel informed and confident about keeping their little ones safe online.

Final Thoughts

Online safety isn’t about fear or restriction, it’s about empowering children with the right habits from the start.

By using simple activities, clear policies, and practical advice for families, we can help young children build a healthy relationship with technology that will serve them well as they grow.

This Safer Internet Day, let’s commit to making online safety part of our everyday practice, through play, conversation, and trusted guidance.