- family tablets and phones
- video and streaming apps
- simple games with chat or multiplayer features
- school accounts, classroom links and shared devices
Ages 5-7
Shared play and simple safety rules
At this age, safety is mostly adult setup, close participation and one clear help rule a child can remember.
Parent focus: The goal is not independence. The goal is a calm habit: pause, bring the device to a safe adult and tell the truth without fear of punishment.
- unexpected messages, friend requests or invitations
- scary, sexual or confusing content appearing by accident
- sharing a name, school, photo, voice, routine or location
- ads, purchases, links or videos that leave the app they started in
- hiding the screen when an adult comes near
- sudden fear of a game, video or app they previously liked
- new words, jokes or sexualized language that seem out of place
- saying someone online told them not to tell
A conversation starter
If anything on a screen surprises you, asks you to keep a secret or makes you feel weird, bring the device to me. You will not be in trouble.
Questions worth asking
- Where can people message you in this game or app?
- What would you do if a picture or message made you uncomfortable?
- Who are the safe adults you can tell at home, school or care?
Official guidance
Use these sources to go deeper.
Quinte Protects translates the risk locally. These links point families back to the Canadian child-protection and public-safety resources that should remain the authority.
ProtectKidsOnline.ca: Ages 5-7 interests and risks
Age-specific Canadian guidance on supervision, app setup, games, video platforms and talking with young children.
ProtectKidsOnline.ca: Emerging issues for ages 5-7
Current online risks and prevention advice from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.