STUDENTS at Ormiston College’s Early Learning Centre were recently among the first in Queensland to Harold’s Safe Screen Time, a new Life Education module designed specifically for the preschool under-five’s cohort.
Life Ed Queensland CEO Taryn Black said the module taught digital safety skills to under-fives, with more than 80 per cent of parents reporting an online presence.
“And research is showing most toddlers can swipe before they speak. The program comes at a crucial time, with emerging threats from AI platforms, the risk of unwanted contact, and online bullying creating escalating dangers for all young people,” she said.
“Many preschoolers are accessing the online world long before they own a device.
“Digital technology is already part of their everyday learning and play, so we can’t afford to wait until primary school to start teaching these skills.
“It’s critical to build safe habits and clear boundaries from the earliest years.”
Rolling out nationally this term, Harold’s Safe Screen Time will be delivered in preschools and early learning centres across Australia.
With a focus on fun, play-based learning, hero mascot Healthy Harold guides children through stories and activities that help embed key safety messages.
The sessions teach children how to manage screen time, recognise dangers and develop essential help-seeking behaviours.
The program was presented at Wondall Heights on March 4 and 5 and at Coolnwynpin State School on March 9.
Life Ed comes to Redland Bay at Little Scholars School of Early Learning on March 13, Sheldon College on March 18, Tingalpa State School on March 30, Wynnum’s Edge Early Learning Centre on April 20, Manly’s Treehouse Early Learning Centre on May 7 and Wynnum West in September.
The program was developed in consultation with Early Childhood Australia and the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
Ms Black said it directly responded to concerning findings from the eSafety Commissioner including that 89 per cent of four-year-olds would click on a potentially harmful pop-up, 73 per cent of four-year-olds would share their name and address online and 70 per cent of children in that age group would disclose their age.
The new module strengthens Life Ed’s whole-school approach to cyber safety and respectful relationships, supporting children to navigate the digital world from preschool through to Year 6.
“Parents are struggling to keep up with the pace of change, so programs like this are providing real relief,” Ms Black said.
