In today's increasingly connected world, children are engaging with digital technologies from an ever-younger age. Even preschoolers now routinely interact with smartphones, tablets, and other internet-connected devices, often before they can read or write. This early exposure creates both opportunities and challenges, making it essential that children develop fundamental digital literacy and safety skills from the very beginning of their technology journey.
A Pioneering Partnership for Preschool Protection
PlayingITSafe stands at the forefront of early childhood online safety education in Australia. This comprehensive program represents a powerful collaboration between two organisations with complementary expertise: the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Alannah and Madeline Foundation.
The partnership brings together the AFP's extensive experience in child protection and cybercrime prevention with the Alannah and Madeline Foundation's proven track record in creating safe environments for children under 16. This combination of law enforcement insights and child welfare expertise has resulted in a program uniquely positioned to address the specific online safety needs of our youngest digital citizens.
Learning Through Play
What makes PlayingITSafe particularly effective is its developmentally appropriate approach. Rather than using fear-based messaging or complex technical explanations, the program harnesses the natural power of play-based learning to introduce essential online safety concepts.
The carefully designed activities help preschoolers understand:
The networked nature of the internet - building basic awareness of how digital devices connect people and information
Safe information sharing - developing early discernment about what is appropriate to share online
Critical thinking about technology - encouraging questions and thoughtful engagement rather than passive consumption
Respect in digital spaces - extending offline social skills to online interactions
Trusted adults - identifying who can help with technology questions or concerns
Privacy basics - understanding simple concepts of personal information protection
Adult supervision - recognising the importance of using technology with trusted grown-ups
These foundational concepts are introduced through engaging activities that feel like natural play while building crucial protective knowledge.
Resources for Educators and Families
PlayingITSafe recognises that effective early childhood education requires a partnership between educational settings and homes. The program provides complementary resources for both preschool educators and families, creating a consistent approach to online safety education across children's environments.
For educators, the program offers:
Curriculum-aligned activity guides
Professional development materials
Classroom resources and implementation support
For parents and carers, PlayingITSafe provides:
Family-friendly conversation starters about technology
At-home extension activities
Guidance on setting appropriate boundaries
Tips for modelling healthy technology use
This dual-audience approach ensures children receive consistent messages about online safety, reinforced across the important contexts in their lives.
Built on Expertise
The quality of PlayingITSafe stems from the depth of expertise behind its development. The AFP brings decades of experience in addressing online threats to children through its work in cybercrime investigation and prevention. The Alannah and Madeline Foundation contributes its established excellence in creating evidence-based resources that protect children from violence and bullying in both physical and digital spaces.
Together, these organisations have created a program that addresses real-world online risks in an age-appropriate manner, without compromising on the importance of the underlying safety messages.
Accessing PlayingITSafe
For early childhood educators, parents, and carers interested in bringing these valuable resources to their preschoolers, PlayingITSafe materials are freely available through the program's website: https://playingitsafe.org.au/
The site offers downloadable resources, implementation guides, and additional support for adults seeking to introduce young children to technology in a safe, thoughtful manner.
Laying Foundations for Digital Wellbeing
By introducing fundamental online safety concepts during these formative years, PlayingITSafe helps establish patterns of thoughtful technology use that can serve children throughout their digital lives. Rather than treating online safety as an add-on skill to be developed later, the program recognises that healthy digital habits begin with a child's earliest interactions with technology.
As our world becomes increasingly digitised, programs like PlayingITSafe play a crucial role in ensuring that even our youngest citizens develop the awareness and skills needed to navigate online environments safely and confidently. Through this innovative partnership between the AFP and the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Australia is taking important steps to protect children at the very beginning of their digital journey.
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