The core habits are: strong, private passwords; sharing as little personal information as possible; checking before clicking; being careful with online friends; and telling a trusted adult when something feels wrong.
Passwords
- Use long passphrases: several random words together are stronger than short complex ones
- Different passwords for important accounts
- Never share passwords with friends
- Turn on two-step verification where available
Personal information
Teach children what never to post or share with strangers or AI tools:
- Full name, school, home address, phone number
- Photos in school uniform or showing the house number
- Live location
- Passwords and verification codes
Spotting scams and fake messages
Warning signs include:
- Urgency: "act now or lose your account"
- Prizes you did not enter for
- Requests for codes or passwords
- Links that look slightly wrong
- Messages from "friends" asking for money or codes
Rule of thumb: stop, check with an adult, then decide.
Online friends
People online are not always who they say they are. Children should not share personal details, move to private chats with strangers, or agree to meet someone they only know online. They should always tell a trusted adult if someone makes them uncomfortable.
AI tools
Treat AI chatbots like any other online service: no personal details, check important facts, and remember it is software, not a friend. See is AI safe for kids?.
For parents
- Keep devices in shared spaces for younger children
- Use age-appropriate settings and parental controls
- Have regular, calm conversations: children share more when they do not fear losing their device
- Model the habits yourself
Digital safety is covered as part of our Artificial Intelligence for Kids course and touched on throughout our technology courses.
Our technology courses for kids: Fun with Coding (ages 10–16), Learn Python (ages 12–18) and Artificial Intelligence for Kids (ages 12–16). For younger children, try the free AI Explorers workshop or our free at-home coding activities.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach my child about online safety?
Through regular, calm conversations and a few clear habits: private passwords, no personal details, check before clicking and tell an adult if something feels wrong.
What personal information should kids never share online?
Full name, school, home address, phone number, live location, passwords and verification codes.
How can children spot online scams?
Look for urgency, unexpected prizes, requests for codes or passwords and slightly wrong links, then stop and check with an adult.
Should I use parental controls?
Age-appropriate controls help, especially for younger children, alongside open conversations and shared spaces for devices.
More coding & AI guides for parents
- Coding for kids: a complete guide for parents
- AI for kids: what parents need to know
- Is AI safe for kids? A practical checklist for parents
- How kids should use AI for homework, without cheating
- Python for kids: what to learn first, and in what order
- Why we start beginners on Small Basic before Python
- All coding & AI guides for parents →
Written by the Learning Bubble teaching team. If something here does not match your situation, ask us. We would rather give you a straight answer than have you guess.