Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Online Safety Rules Poster: Free Printable Chart for Year 3
- ForYear 3
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Online Safety Rules Poster is a free printable chart for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8). It gives children five clear rules for staying safe when sharing online. Children read each rule, think about what it means and explain it in their own words. It needs only paper and a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help, a stretch idea and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 is a poster chart built around five rules for staying safe when sharing online. The rules cover keeping personal details private, asking before sharing a photo, being kind, telling a grown up when something upsets you, and never agreeing to meet someone you only know online. There are numbered questions with space to answer and lines for writing. Children read, think and explain in their own words.
- Keep your name, address and school private.
- Ask a grown-up before you share a photo.
- Be kind online, just as you would in real life.
- Tell a grown-up if something upsets you.
- Never agree to meet someone you only know online.
The five rules at a glance
Keeping details private
Children think about why some things about us are not for sharing with people we do not know. They practise saying so in their own words.
Photos and kindness
One rule is about asking a grown up before sharing a photo. Another is about being kind online, just as you would in real life.
Telling a grown up
Children learn that if something upsets them online, the right move is to tell a grown up. This is the rule to make sure they remember.
Never meeting
The last rule is about never agreeing to meet someone you only know online. Talk about why this rule has no exceptions.
Why teach online safety at seven or eight?
Many children in Year 3 already use tablets, games and video calls, often on a shared family device. They may not have their own accounts yet, but they meet the online world every week. Short, clear rules work better than long lists at this age. Children can remember five simple rules and use them when something new appears.
The National Curriculum for England includes online safety within Computing. At Key Stage 2, children learn to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly, and to know how to report concerns. Rules are a starting point. The real protection is a child who feels able to talk to a trusted adult without worrying about getting into trouble.
This sheet is a general introduction. If a child tells you about something that has worried or upset them online, listen calmly and thank them for telling you. Adults should then decide what to do next. In school, follow your safeguarding procedures.
Did you know?
- Words you type online can be seen by people you cannot see.
- A photo sent to one person can be copied and passed on to others.
- People online are not always who they say they are.
- Many apps and games have a minimum age set by the company that makes them.
- A good password is long and hard to guess, and it is kept secret.
Skills and curriculum link
- Online safety
- Privacy
- Asking for help
- Explaining a rule
- Kind behaviour online
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Computing | Online safety | Year 3 |
What children will be able to do
- I can name some things I should keep private online.
- I can say when to ask a trusted adult for help.
- I can explain a safety rule in my own words.
Ideas for talking about it
- Use everyday examplesLink each rule to something children know, such as a game, a video call with a relative or a class message. Real examples make rules easier to remember.
- Keep the tone calmTalk about safety without frightening children. Say that most online time is fine and that rules help us stay in charge.
- Make a family or class agreementAfter the sheet, agree two or three rules together. Write them on a poster and put it near where devices are used.
- Praise tellingWhen a child tells you about something online, thank them first. Children who are thanked for telling are more likely to tell again.
Key words
- OnlineConnected to the internet, for example when you use an app, a game or a video call.
- PrivateOnly for you and the people you trust. Not for everyone to see.
- Personal informationFacts that say who you are or help someone find you.
- ShareTo let other people see or have something, such as a photo or a message.
- Trusted adultA grown up you know well and can talk to, such as a parent, carer or teacher.
- KindCaring and thoughtful towards other people.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the five rules aloud together. Ask your child to say what each one means in their own words.
- Work through the questions together the first time. Talk about each choice before your child writes.
- Check against page 2. Ask, "Why do you think that?" The reasoning matters as much as the answer.
- Come back to the poster another day, or put it on the wall. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read each rule aloud and talk about one example, such as a game or a video call. Ask your child to tell you the rule back in their own words. Work on one rule at a time, and come back to the rest later.
To stretch confident children
Make a bigger poster of the five rules and decorate it. Add a short reason under each rule, starting with the word "because". Then teach the rules to a younger brother, sister or friend.
Make it a game
Take turns to act out what to do for each rule. One player acts a situation, such as getting a message that feels wrong. The other player says which rule helps and what they would do. Swap roles after each rule.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child thinks only passwords need to stay private.
Try thisAsk what else tells strangers who you are or where to find you. Talk through a few examples together.
Watch forA child thinks being kind only matters with people they know.
Try thisRemind them that online messages are read by real people. Ask how they would feel if they got that message.
Watch forA child worries that telling a grown up will get them into trouble.
Try thisSay clearly that telling is always the right thing to do, and that you will not be cross. Thank them when they do.
Talk about it
- Which rule do you think is the most important, and why?
- What could you do if a message made you feel worried?
- Who are the trusted adults you could tell?
- How can you be kind when you cannot see the other person's face?
- Why might a photo be hard to take back once it is shared?
- What would you say to a friend who wanted to break one of the rules?
Take it off the page
Rule cards
Cut paper into five cards. Write one rule on each and draw a picture to match. Shuffle them and take turns to pick one and explain it.
Trusted adult map
Draw yourself in the middle of a page. Around you, draw or write the names of the trusted adults you could tell. Keep the map somewhere safe.
Kind message practice
Write a kind note to a friend or family member by hand. Talk about how it feels to get a kind message, and how that links to being kind online.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Keep the talk relaxed and give lots of time to think. Short, calm chats work well. Praise your child for explaining their thinking, not only for getting things right.
Teachers
Use it as a starter or plenary in PSHE or Computing, as an early finisher task or as a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. The learning focus is listed above so you can match it to your own plans. Check it against your school's policy.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider PSHE plan. It pairs well with books, everyday talk and family rules about devices. Print it again for brothers and sisters, or return to it after a few weeks to see what your child remembers.
Where this fits
Before this sheet, younger children learn simple ideas about being kind, keeping safe and asking an adult when they are unsure. These ideas are the base for online safety. Children who can already talk about feelings and about who to ask for help find these rules easier to understand.
After this sheet, children go on to think about passwords, who can see what they share, what to do when they see something that worries them and how to report a concern. Later in Key Stage 2, they use these ideas in more detail as they use technology more independently.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What kind of information should you never share online?
- Who could you tell if something online made you feel worried?
- Why do we keep some things private?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is the Online Safety Rules Poster for?
It is written for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8), in Key Stage 2. It can also be used with slightly younger or older children if the rules and ideas suit them.
- What will children practise?
Children practise simple rules for keeping personal information private and asking for help. They also practise explaining a safety rule in their own words, which shows whether they have understood it.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or for revision a few weeks later.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It is a screen free printable that needs only paper and a pencil. That makes it a good way to talk about online safety without a device in the room.
- What if it feels too hard?
Read each rule aloud and talk about an example together. Work on one rule at a time and let your child explain it back to you. Come back to the rest on another day.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Please check it against your own school plan.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add their own colour if they like, especially if they make a bigger poster.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.