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Children continue to be a focus of cyber safety, with the Australian Federal Police being the latest organisation to address the issue.
The AFP announced today a new book — called Jack Changes the Game — aimed at helping parents, educators, and carers promote online safety among kids and is based on an actual incident reported to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).
In the book, Jack makes a new friend online, but the new friend begins to make some odd and alarming requests. Jack talks to friends and eventually his parents, and together they begin to build new, safer habits.
The characters also make a report to the ACCCE.
The ACCCE is led by the AFP, and its mission is right there in the name. ThinkUKnow, another organisation, partnered with ACCCE to produce the book.
Experts in child education and protection came together to assist in the development of the book, including Professor Kerryann Walsh from the School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education at Queensland University of Technology.
“One of the great things about children’s picture books is that they involve adults and children in a shared reading experience where everyone can learn about new things together,” said Professor Walsh in an announcement.
“Jack Changes the Game provides adults with very useful tips on how to talk to children about online safety and in particular, about online grooming.”
Hilda Sirec, acting Assistant Commissioner of the AFP, was also pleased with the book.
“Around half of parents and carers regularly talk to their child about online safety. With children spending more time online, it’s important we teach them about safe practices and encourage help-seeking behaviours,” acting Assistant Commissioner Sirec said today.
“Jack Changes the Game has been created as a resource to start conversations with five- to eight-year-olds in a simple, yet effective way.”
Kelly Humphries, author and child sexual abuse advisor, called the book “an opportunity”.
“A vessel for parents, teachers, caregivers, or anyone to have these tough conversations through a non-confrontational, relatable medium,” she said.
A printed version of Jack Changes the Game has been given to every primary school in Australia, and an e-book version is available at thinkuknow.org.au.
Last week, the Australian Cyber Security Centre released its own cyber safety checklist for parents and carers.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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