There is a lot of media coverage around at the moment about social media and it's potential effect on children and adolescents.

As with everything, there are pros and cons to the online world and the responsibility for managing what young people can access online via the various apps, websites and networks falls on parents, carers and adults.

Aye Mind explains: "When we think about children and young people going online, often one of our main concerns is making sure that they are safe and have a positive experience. We know there is a range of online harms that they might come across, from bullying, online pornography, sexual exploitation and abuse, to content promoting self-harm or eating disorders."

It is a good idea to set parental controls and Internet Matters has useful privacy guides:

• Social Media parental controls & privacy settings
• Online safety guides : Online safety leaflets & resources

From Internet matters: 5 tips to consider when using screen time tools

Here’s what you need to know about using screen time tools effectively, along with a quick summary of the options available to you.

1. Understand your child’s needs: Not all children use screens in the same way. Discuss their online habits and the purpose of their screen time—be it educational, social, or for entertainment.
2. Set realistic limits: Gradually introduce boundaries that align with your child’s age and your family’s routine. Overly strict limits can lead to resistance, while clear expectations encourage healthy habits.
3. Model balanced behaviour: Children often mimic adults. Set a positive example by balancing your own screen use and prioritising offline time.
4. Combine tools with conversations: Technology isn’t a substitute for communication. Regularly talk to your child about why limits are important and how they can manage their own screen time as they grow.
5. Review and adapt regularly: As your child grows, their online needs and habits will evolve. Adjust settings and rules to reflect their age and digital maturity.

Further advice and information on how to stay safe online

• Parents and carers - CEOP Education
• Resources for parents - Smartphone Free Childhood
• What is social media? - NSPCC
• 11 Online Safety Resources – Aye Mind
• Professionals Online Safety Helpline - UK Safer Internet Centre
• Online safety leaflets & resources - Internet Matters
• Safeguarding Children - Get Safe Online
• Taking control of your online safety - Childline

When Planet Youth was first developed in Iceland, one of its core strengths was the active involvement of parents and carers. It’s widely recognised that parents and carers are the most influential figures in a young person’s life. But the real power emerged when they came together—not just as individuals, but as a parenting community. This collective approach helped build a shared understanding around boundaries and expectations, which in turn strengthened the protective factors that support young people as they grow into adulthood.

Just as importantly, it created a network of support for parents and carers themselves. Talking to others who are facing similar challenges can offer not only comfort, but also fresh perspectives and practical solutions. After all, parenting is easier—and more effective—when we do it together and support one another.

One of the most effective tools that helped parents and carers build a strong parenting community was the creation of Parental Agreements. Across each school year—from primary through to high school—parents came together to agree on shared boundaries and expectations. These agreements promoted a nurturing, safe environment for all children and families.

It might sound like a big undertaking, but like most meaningful change, it started with small steps.

The first step? Getting to know the other parents in your child’s class or peer group. Of course, that’s easier said than done with the pace of modern life—but we’d love to know: is this something you’d find helpful?

For a starting point you can look at the Parental Agreement that the first Planet Youth Highland Parent Group created in 2021.

What would need to be changed to make this relevant and of use to parents and carers in 2025? Please let us know. You can write your thoughts and ideas in the Ideas tab or just add to the comments box below 👇🏽

Growing up in Highland - Parental pledge

This pledge looks to bring parents together to make key decisions which affect their children’s wellbeing. There often isn’t a lot of guidance on these issues, a collective community agreement can be much stronger than trying to make all of these choices on your own. For example, when other parents decide to buy their child a mobile phone, this will likely influence when you buy your child a mobile phone.

Spend quality time with your child every day. Spending time with you child can be a protective factor against substance use. Those who spend more time with their parents throughout the week and during the weekend are less likely to use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (substances).

Help out with schoolwork, take part in sports groups and show an interest in their hobbies. It is important that young people are encouraged to keep engaging in quality supervised, structured activities that interest them as they get older.

Encourage two or more activities per week. Young people who are busy and engaged in high quality activities are less likely to use substances and it is also beneficial for their overall physical and mental wellbeing.

Reduce the amount of time your child is out late, especially unsupervised Being out late is a risk factor for substance use. Knowing where your child is, is a protective factor. Local parents agree that 9pm is the latest time for S1 pupils to come in.

Sleep is essential. Follow guidance from Sleep Scotland S1 recommendation is between 9 to 11 hours. Great resources on sleep can be found at sleepscotland.org including advice for other ages. Planet Youth data highlights that many young people are not getting enough sleep.

Get to know your child’s friends and their parents Getting to know your child’s friends and their parents is a key protective factor and can help form a supportive community around them. This can allow for easier conversations between parents. It can also benefit children whose parents may not be as involved in the local community

Internet access. Use guidance and parental controls thinkuknow.co.uk is a great resource for parents and young people on internet safety. Evidence suggests that if a child spends a lot of time on screens during childhood it can affect many important aspects of their life. Things like sleep, healthy weight, behaviour, and learning can all be impacted.

Don’t buy alcohol, cigarettes, e-cigarettes for young people under the age of 18 Sometimes parents think that buying a small amount of alcohol for your child will provide them with a ‘safe’ amount of alcohol. However, we know that young people often access more alcohol alongside what parents may supply. By providing even small amounts of alcohol, parents show their child they are more accepting of alcohol use and drunkenness. Local Planet Youth data shows that young people whose parents disapprove of alcohol use and drunkenness are less likely to use alcohol or get drunk. The same applies to smoking, vaping and drug use.

Keep a look out for bullying. See it, report it Young people often use substances for the same reasons as adults. We know that those who are bullied are more likely to use substances. Dealing with bullying as soon as it arises can help young people feel safe in their school and community, which is a protective factor. Build your child's confidence and self esteem Young people who are confident in making their own choices and feel good about themselves are more likely to make positive decisions around alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Build your child's confidence and self esteem Young people who are confident in making their own choices and feel good about themselves are more likely to make positive decisions around alcohol, tobacco and other drugs

Speakeasy supports positive, accurate communication between families and children around all aspects of growing up, relationships & sexual health through our work with parents and carers.

In Autumn 2025, we will be offering a menu of sessions to help parents and carers explore lots of different topics:

• Puberty & Bodies
• What Children Need To Know
• Answering Difficult Questions
• Useful Resources
• Keeping Children Safe
• Off & Online
• The Role Of The School
• The Adolescent Brain & Risk
• Pornography, Sex & Technology

Is this something you would be interested in? If so, please either email the team or leave us a comment in the comment box below 👇🏽

Following the initial pilot of Planet Youth in Highland from 2021-2024, we are now expanding across Highland.

At the start of 2025 we began to contact secondary schools across Highland to have conversations with them about the benefits of becoming a Planet Youth Partner School. Initially we had planned to add on 5 new schools for the next 2 year cycle, however we had 8 schools contact us and ask to become involved and we are delighted to now have 13 Planet Youth Partner Schools across Highland.

Over the next few months we will be contacting the primary schools within the associated schools groups around these new partner schools to start to build relationships as our focus is on early intervention and prevention. If you run a Parent Council for one of these schools or for one of their feeder primaries, we would love to hear from you.

The 13 Planet Youth Partner Schools are:

• Tain royal academy
• Golspie high school
• Dornoch academy
• Thurso high school
• Wick high school
• Lochaber high school
• Plockton high school
• Invergordon academy
• Alness academy
• Dingwall academy
• Inverness high school
• Culloden academy
• Nairn academy

From Charlene Hercher of the East Sutherland Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service:

Alcohol and drugs are being increasingly used by young people throughout Sutherland and the rest of Highland, trends reported currently are:

• Alcohol in the form of dragon soop, flavoured ciders, and alcopops.
• Drugs in the form of cannabis (grass, green, bud), cocaine (charlie, ching, snow, marching powder) ) and Ketamine (Ket, baby food).
• Confirmed drugs circulating Highland - illicit benzodiazepines and other sedating drugs that contain synthetic opioids.

See following links for further information and support options.

Please download the HOPE app on your phone.

• Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership
• Crew - Drugs information
• Confidential advice from FRANK
• Highland Substance Awareness Toolkit – Information source on the use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes
• Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs - A Parent's Guide