Workshop section 2 of 7 · 9-minute session
Inside your child’s digital world
What to set and practise
‘Can I play?’ contains several decisions.
A nine-year-old wants a new online game. Playing, chatting, adding contacts and spending money need separate decisions. So do sharing information, following links and dealing with unexpected content. Allowing the game does not mean allowing every feature. Games can also offer creativity, friendship and enjoyment; begin by understanding what your child likes.
Borrowed safety is the protection an adult arranges: the account, settings, approved contacts and nearby help. Portable judgment is what a child can practise and carry to another device: pausing, checking and asking for help. Children need both. These are family teaching terms, not measures of readiness.
Choose one permission to discuss. A younger child on a shared tablet may need adult-led use; an older child can practise a bounded task with support. Check current service eligibility before enabling an account or feature.
One question to take away
Ask your child to show you one thing they enjoy in a game or app.
Google Play purchase and download approval (opens a new tab)Source checked 2026-10-27
Supervised experiences on YouTube (opens a new tab)Source checked 2026-10-27
Keep in touch: occasional updates or contact the educator.