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Internet Safety for Elementary Students

Keep your kid safe online

When elementary-aged kids first start exploring the Internet, the concern most parents have is about "stranger danger" -- the chance kids will meet an adult with less than savory motives. While parents do have to be concerned about their kids meeting strangers on the Internet -- and teach kids how to avoid them -- keeping kids' online experiences safe is a lot more than watching out for strangers. Staying safe is about a child's entire online experience.

Beginning at the age when kids start to interact on the Internet -- playing games, watching YouTube videos, socializing in virtual worlds, getting homework help, and searching on google -- parents will want to be actively involved in their kids' online lives.

What is it?

Internet safety requires active parental engagement and real conversations about online life. In today's world, where kids turn to the Internet for just about all of their interests, education is a parent's first line of defense in staying safe.

Start by visiting the sites your elementary-aged kids enjoy, ask them to show you what they like and why. Then talk to your kids about a comprehensive approach to Internet safety, like not giving out private information online, behaving responsibly and respectfully towards others, limiting the amount of time spent online, understanding the difference between ads and content, not clicking on things that lead you too far astray, and finally, helping your kids to become responsible digital citizens.

Why it matters

Now that kids can go online from so many different devices -- videogame consoles, iPhones and smart phones, and even handheld gaming devices -- it makes the job of teaching Internet safety a little more involved. But talking about it in the elementary years will have lasting rewards. Kids are increasingly living their lives online. Shouldn't it be a nice place? Use the guidelines below to develop your family's approach to Internet safety.

Basic Internet safety for all kids:

• Never share names, schools, ages, phone numbers, or addresses

• Never send pictures to strangers

• Keep passwords private (except to parents)

• Don’t open any mail from strangers

• If something mean or creepy happens, immediately get a grown-up

Strategies for respectful, responsible -- and safer -- online life:

Visit only age-appropriate sites. Check out the site before your kids visit. Know what features exist – chat functions, game play, virtual worlds.

Search safely. Use safe search settings for young kids or filtering software to limit inappropriate exposure.

Avoid strangers. Tell your kids that people aren’t always who they say they are in cyberspace. If someone they don’t know talks to them (outside of controlled environments like Club Penguin), tell your kids they shouldn’t respond.

Be a good cyber citizen! Remind kids that an Internet playground is still a playground and they need to play nice. A good rule of thumb: If they wouldn’t do something in real life, they shouldn’t do it online. Show your kids where they can report mean behavior or unkind content.

 

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