Chatting Safely Online
Video Link: bit.ly/olyRCv3
Games, social media, and other online spaces give kids opportunities to meet and chat with others outside the confines of their real-life communities. But how well do kids actually know the people they're meeting and interacting with? Help students consider whom they're talking to and the types of information they're sharing online.
Students hear from teens about the benefits and drawbacks of presenting themselves differently (or even anonymously) to others online, and consider what it means to "be yourself" in digital spaces.
Video Lesson Activity: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UOkBAabgQthEAxHAMmu_H_7ZE6pHXeNEqrS7nDi-hCs/edit
Spartan Swim coming later this month. Be sure to sign up! A parent must stay for this elementary event!
Children who will be 5 years old by September 1st can pre-register for Kindergarten TONIGHT!
Keeping Games Fun and Friendly
Video Link: bit.ly/olyRCv1
Social interaction is part of what makes online gaming so popular and engaging for kids. Of course, online communication can come with some risks. Show your kids how to keep their gaming experiences fun, healthy, and positive.
Video Activity Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HQQ_lgKj5SVL5aGWYOrIfDfcwtxxjK9sI9-hJmSs3XY/edit
Family Activity: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kcPvJC1Qv6ZYAvecIb7k1ZJOBOOVAqoELAqMqSCybUA/edit#slide=id.g5e76c0c0a6_0_0
Mark your calendars for the Scholastic Book Fair, which will be May 2-6!
The Bunny Bop Easter Egg Hunt is this Sunday the 10th! Reservations are recommended, but walk-ups are welcome!
**Give Them the Right Words**
Kids learn about appropriate verbal and physical communication from watching you. But online conversations can be invisible. Occasionally, narrate as you're writing texts or social media comments when your kids are in earshot.
Elementary parents open Spartan Swim coming later this month! Parents need to stay and sign-up with michelle.maris@olympia.org
**Help Kids Make Friends and Interact Safely Online: Elementary**
Soon after kids start reading and writing, they often begin interacting with others online. Whether they're chatting within games or texting family members, kids need the skills to interact respectfully. These skills will help kids -- and the people they're communicating with -- have positive experiences online. Throughout April, be on the lookout for these 4 Family Tips for elementary families who are looking to build a strong foundation for online relationships and communication!
- Give them the right words.
- Play a game of telephone.
- Help kids navigate online friendships.
- Develop their instincts.
Family Tip 5: Skip quizzes.
Help kids identify and avoid clickbait, quizzes, special offers, and anything that asks for personal or private information. This helps keep information secure and devices safe.
Join us for the Bunny Bop Easter Egg Hunt!
Article Link: bit.ly/olyDSA5
Help keep your kids' online experiences positive and productive by learning the truth (and ignoring the rumors) about what really makes them safe.
Article Link: bit.ly/olyDSA3
Do you need parental controls? What are the options? Do they really work? Here's everything you need to know about the wide array of parental control solutions, from OS settings to monitoring apps to network hardware.
Video: bit.ly/olyDSv2
Today's kids spend lots of time posting and sharing information online. Learn five surefire ways to protect their privacy.
Video: bit.ly/olyDSv1
Kids love YouTube. Whether they're watching funny videos, learning cool stuff, or uploading their own creations, they can stay busy on the popular channel. But not everything about YouTube is fun and games. Discover five ways to make YouTube safer for kids.
Family Tip 4: Power up passwords.
Work together with kids to help them come up with complex passwords. Think outside the dictionary. Use phrases and special characters that make passwords hard to guess but easy to remember. Keep passwords private and change them regularly.
Family Activity: bit.ly/olyDSfa1
Evaluate some sample passwords, and then create some strong passwords with your family.
Family Tip 3: Avoid location tracking.
Location-aware apps can be super helpful. But apps that use a device's location to help people find your kid or offer them ads for nearby businesses should be used with caution. Turn them off if you can.
Article: Why parents should care about kids and online privacy
bit.ly/olyDSA2
If you don't want to have the bejesus scared out of you, don't talk to an expert on kids' online privacy. If you knew what was really out there -- online predators, identity thieves, data miners -- you'd lock up the internet and throw away the key. The truth is, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The internet is so woven into our lives, we need to be aware of the worst-case scenarios that can strike when we're unprepared. Read more using the link above!
Family Tip 2: Use privacy settings.
Together, go through the settings on all new apps to make sure you both know what information your kids are sharing. Especially in the beginning, it's better to share very little.
