Dive into Hector’s World

59% of five- to seven-year-olds access the internet at home and 21% do so unsupervised

Children as young as five are the focus of a new online safety programme launched by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.

OFCOM research indicates that 59% of five- to 7-year-olds access the internet at home and that 21% do so unsupervised. Now building on the success of the organisation’s Thinkuknow education initiative, which has already reached over 1.7 million children and young people between the ages of eight to 16 years, the UK’s Centre for tackling the sexual abuse of children is now reaching out to parents of much younger children with vital ‘safety first’ advice.

Hector’s World comprises five state-of-the-art, animated episodes. It takes children on a journey with Hector and his friends as they explore issues such as personal information, trustworthiness, making positive choices online and how to be open with a trusted adult when they use the internet.

The animation has been adapted for a young UK audience following successful running of the programme in New Zealand and is backed up by a series of free resources available to parents and teachers via the dedicated CEOP education website – thinkuknow.co.uk. All materials have been developed in consultation with Becta and with teachers.

Hector’s World comprises five state-of-the-art animated episodes

Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the CEOP commented: ‘Teachers have asked us for this material because it is never too early to start giving children “safety first” messages: in the same way that we teach small children to cross the road safely, there is a need to ensure that young children learn good habits for a future life online. If we give them early lessons in a way that is engaging, relevant and fun, we can help to safeguard young children online not only now, but well into the future.’

Hector’s World is available at www.thinkyouknow.co.uk/hectorsworld