Recently, schools in Glasgow made headlines after banning primary school children from accessing YouTube on school iPads. The move came after reports of pupils being exposed to inappropriate content during lessons.
However, this decision has sparked a wider conversation, not just about classroom technology, but about how children use YouTube at home too. After all, YouTube is one of the most popular platforms for kids. But with the good comes the not-so-good content that may not always be suitable for young eyes.
So, what does this mean for parents? And how can you keep your child safe while still allowing them to enjoy the educational and fun side of YouTube?
What This Means for Parents at Home
Just like in the classroom, children at home can easily click on something unsuitable, even by accident. Unlike school iPads, your child’s device might not have filters or restrictions in place, making it important for parents to step in.
5 Practical Tips to Keep Your Child Safe on YouTube
Use YouTube Kids: download the YouTube Kids app, designed specifically for children under 12. It filters out inappropriate content and allows you to set parental controls.
Turn On Restricted Mode: on regular YouTube, enable Restricted Mode in settings. While not perfect, it hides most adult or flagged content.
Set Screen Time Limits: agree on a daily or weekly limit for YouTube use. Encourage balance with reading, outdoor play and creative activities.
Watch Together: sit with your child during screen time. Use it as an opportunity to discuss what they’re watching and build critical thinking skills (“Is this video safe? Is it true?”).
Teach Digital Safety: remind your child never to share personal information in comments.
Explain why some videos aren’t suitable and reassure them it’s okay to come to you if they see something that upsets them.
The Glasgow YouTube ban is a reminder that while technology can be a powerful learning tool, children need guidance and boundaries to use it safely. At home, parents play the most important role in shaping how kids experience digital platforms. By combining tools like YouTube Kids, parental controls, and open conversations, you can help your child explore online content safely, without taking away the fun and learning that YouTube can provide.
Are you looking for some screen free activities to do with your child at home? Check out our STEM activity flip book. Minimise the number of times you hear ‘I’m booored!’ with our flip book of 32 fun and easy Science Technology Engineering and Maths activities and experiments. They’re great for entertaining the kids and can help to reduce screen time. Our unique pack of 32 STEM activities and Experiments are simple and fun and can be created with everyday items from the supermarket.
