Most young children are online long before they can read. A tablet at Nan’s, a video before bed, a game on the way to school: it adds up fast. The good news is that the most important online safety lesson is one you already teach every day: if something worries you, come and tell me. Here’s how to talk to your child about online safety from preschool to Year 3, the words to use, simple family rules, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Start talking early
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner says that for young children, “simply restricting screen use is not enough to protect them.” Talking matters as much as limits. eSafety’s research found that “81 percent of Australian parents say their 2 to 5 year old uses the internet,” and it reports one study in which “89% of 4-year-olds would click on a pop-up, even if they could not read it”.
So the earlier you start the conversation, the more natural it feels. Little and often works better than one big talk: a sentence or two while you play a game together, or when an ad pops up.
Four simple messages for young children
eSafety’s early years program boils online safety down to four messages: “Be safe, Be kind, Ask for help and Make good choices.” They’re easy for a four or five-year-old to remember, and they grow with your child.
| Message | What it might sound like |
|---|---|
| Be safe | “Your name, our address and your school are private. We don’t type them in or say them online.” |
| Be kind | “We’re kind online, just like at the park. If a message would make someone sad, we don’t send it.” |
| Ask for help | “If anything online makes you feel funny, scared or unsure, come and get me. You won’t be in trouble.” |
| Make good choices | “We ask before downloading a game, and we stop when the timer goes.” |
The words to use
eSafety suggests some simple phrases parents can use, word for word:
- “Come and get me if anyone talks to you or contacts you online, even if it’s a friend”
- “If something pops up on the screen don’t tap on it. Come and tell me and we can sort it out together”
- “You can always ask me for help, even if it’s about something you think is rude”
One more promise makes a big difference. eSafety advises: “Let them know you will not cut off internet or device access if they tell you they’re feeling uncomfortable or unsafe online.” Children who fear losing the tablet often keep problems to themselves.
Simple rules that keep young children safer
eSafety’s advice for children aged 5 to 12 rests on three strategies: “Be engaged, open and supportive”, “Set some rules”, and “Use safety features and settings”. In practice:
- Model good screen habits. Children copy what we do. Put your own phone down at meals and in the car, and say out loud when you’re choosing to stop.
- Make a few family rules together. Which apps, how long, and where. eSafety has family tech agreement templates for children under 5 and for 5 to 8-year-olds.
- Watch and play together. eSafety calls this co-viewing: “Watch or play together”. It’s also the best way to know the content. Try apps and games before your child uses them.
- Keep devices in shared spaces. “Keep the computer or device in an area of your home that can be supervised,” eSafety advises, and check in on what your child is watching.
- Keep your accounts separate. If your child has their own device, avoid logging into your own accounts on it.
- Use parental controls, and stay nearby. eSafety says parental controls “are most effective when used alongside supervision and other online safety strategies”, and they need setting up on every device your child uses.
What the under-16 social media rules mean for families
Since 10 December 2025, age-restricted social media platforms in Australia “are not allowed to let under-16s create or have an account.” eSafety describes it this way: “It’s not a ban, it’s a delay to having accounts.”
For a child in Prep to Year 3, this mostly reinforces what you’re already doing: young children shouldn’t have their own social media accounts. It doesn’t replace supervision. Children can still come across things that upset them in videos, games and messages, so the rules above still matter. eSafety keeps an up-to-date guide to which platforms are covered.
What to do if something goes wrong
If your child tells you about something online, start by thanking them for telling you. Stay calm, even if you’re worried. Then:
- Report it to the app, game or platform first. eSafety will only investigate cyberbullying “if it has been reported to the service or platform used to send, post or share it.”
- Then report it to eSafety if it isn’t dealt with. eSafety can investigate cyberbullying of children, image-based abuse, and illegal and restricted content, through esafety.gov.au/report.
- In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000). eSafety says to call if you are “in immediate danger or at risk of harm”.
- Talk to someone. Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) is free, open 24/7, and supports young people aged 5 to 25. If your child is still upset, our post on calm-down strategies for kids may help.
What children learn about it at school
Online safety is part of Digital Technologies. In Years 1 and 2, the Australian Curriculum includes sharing content “demonstrating agreed behaviours, guided by trusted adults” (AC9TDI2P05). In Victoria, by Levels 3 and 4, children learn that a password “should be easy to remember, but hard for others to guess” (VC2TDI4S03).
KidStudy’s Year 3 Coding lesson, Safe Online, covers private information, strong passwords and trusted adults. KidStudy itself is built to be a calm, safe place to practise: there are no accounts, no ads and no chat, and your child’s progress stays on your device. For more on keeping screen time short and shared, see screen time that helps, and for screen-free coding fun, try our unplugged coding activities.
Questions parents ask
How do I talk to my child about online safety?
Little and often, in simple words, while you play or watch together. Start with eSafety’s four messages: be safe, be kind, ask for help and make good choices. Most of all, tell your child they can always come to you, and they won’t lose the device for telling you.
What online safety rules should a 5-year-old know?
Keep personal details private, don’t tap on pop-ups, ask before downloading anything, and come and get a grown-up if anything online feels scary, rude or confusing, even if it’s from a friend.
What age can kids have social media in Australia?
Since 10 December 2025, age-restricted social media platforms must not let under-16s create or have an account. eSafety describes it as a delay to having accounts, not a ban.
What should I do if my child sees something upsetting online?
Thank them for telling you and stay calm. Report it to the platform first, then to eSafety if needed. Call Triple Zero (000) if anyone is in immediate danger, and Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) is there for young people aged 5 to 25.
Do parental controls keep my child safe online?
They help, but eSafety says they work best alongside supervision and other online safety strategies. Set them up on every device your child uses, and keep devices in shared spaces.
Where can I report something online in Australia?
Report it to the app, game or platform first. If it isn’t dealt with, report it to the eSafety Commissioner at esafety.gov.au/report. In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
Sources
- Start talking about online safety, eSafety Commissioner
- Encourage your child to ask for help, eSafety Commissioner
- How to choose good online content, eSafety Commissioner
- Picture book and song, eSafety Commissioner
- Online safety basics, eSafety Commissioner
- Parental controls, eSafety Commissioner
- Social media age restrictions, eSafety Commissioner
- Report cyberbullying, eSafety Commissioner
- About Kids Helpline, Kids Helpline
- Digital Technologies: Years 1 and 2, Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
