Safe Search Kids - Education, Parenting, Internet Safety for All

As the world continues to evolve into a more digital society, the idea of what it means to be a responsible digital citizen has come to the forefront. Many people agree that some of the same laws and societal norms that we use to regulate how we interact with one another in the material world should somehow be shaped to be applied to the digital landscape.

It is important to have a standard code of conduct for how we behave when we are online to ensure the safety of everyone participating in the digital world, whether it be for education, work, or social purposes.

But what does it mean to be a digital citizen, and when exactly should we introduce and teach its ideals?

What would a middle school curriculum look like that taught digital citizenship, cyber security, and social media safety?

Let’s take a closer look at what digital citizenship means as well as the many ways educators have been tackling this topic to better prepare students for online life.

What is Digital Citizenship?

Digital citizenship is the ability of individuals to recognize the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living in a digital world, while at the same time, acknowledging that the words they say, and the actions they take online, are recorded into a permanent record that will follow them for the rest of their lives. It is because of this permanence that children and adolescents need to be taught what it means to be a responsible digital citizen from an early age.

The Foundations of Good Digital Citizenship

In short, being a good digital citizen requires individuals to conduct themselves in the digital space in a way that is safe, legal, and ethical, while at the same time, operating within a basic level of morality. Although morality is somewhat subjective, there are still basic norms that people follow in the material world that should apply to the digital world.

The Consequences of Poor Digital Citizenship

Far too many times when we see instances of cyberbullying or online harassment, the perpetrator feels that because they are hiding behind a screen, they are free to act and say things that they may not do or say when in the real world and face-to-face with the victim. A large part of being a good digital citizen is understanding that there really is no difference between your online persona and who you are in the material world.

The Role of Parents and Educators in Promoting Digital Citizenship

So, although parents and educators can take steps to educate our youth and help them to become responsible digital citizens, what about other people? What about bad actors who may not adhere to responsible digital citizenship, and instead, use the digital world to victimize people?

By far, the largest space that our youth occupy in the digital world is social media. As an educator or parent, it is critical to understand that social media safety is a fundamental part of teaching digital citizenship. Many of the best private schools have recognized this and are leading the way by incorporating comprehensive digital citizenship programs into their curricula.

Adolescents and teenagers who use social media on a regular basis are at a higher risk of online threats such as cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and online predation. Not only that, but most younger internet users may also lack basic cybersecurity knowledge which can leave them more vulnerable to phishing, ransomware, and other more general cyber threats.

Integrating Digital Citizenship into Education

Fortunately, more school districts across the country are starting to add digital citizenship curriculum in middle school classrooms across the country. Middle school seems to be the ideal time in an adolescent’s life to prepare them for the digital landscape as this is the time in their life when internet use begins to increase greatly for everything from online classes and homework support to messaging peers and social media use.

So, now that educators have had some practice and experience implementing these new types of digital citizen curriculum into the classroom, what seems to be working and what are the most critical components to include?

Let’s take a closer look at what educators are finding to be some of the most critical components of a well-rounded digital citizenship curriculum.

Key Components of a Digital Citizenship Curriculum

In addition to some basic cybersecurity education, because teenagers spend a good amount of their time in the digital world using social media platforms, developing a well-rounded digital citizenship curriculum requires a strong focus on the risks associated with social media use to ensure social media safety for kids.

Also, keep in mind that when broaching the topics of cybersecurity and digital citizenship with younger learners, it is important to make sure you are finding and using engaging methods to teach these topics. There are a number of incredible resources available online to help educators and parents find materials to teach about cybersecurity and social media safety.

Here are some of the most critical components that should be included in a well-rounded digital citizenship curriculum.

Privacy and Security

Privacy and security are by far the most important topics to cover when discussing cybersecurity basics. The first thing that students should know is how to set their social media accounts private and the importance of disabling location sharing and the risks of geo-tagging photos. Online predators and scammers can use location data to stalk or learn more about the people they are targeting.

Another important aspect of privacy to discuss with students is the importance of not oversharing personal information on social media or to unsolicited messages. Information like addresses, legal names, online passwords, birthdays, social security numbers, and more, if posted online or sent in a message, can be used for a number of malicious purposes including identity theft.

When it comes to security, a basic overview of cybersecurity fundamentals is essential. Topics like how to avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading harmful software, how to install and use antivirus programs, and what to do in the event of a cyber attack, are good places to start. The depth and technicality of the subjects you cover will depend on the age group, however, everyone should have a solid foundation of the basics of being safe online.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a serious problem that many teens do not think about because they do not yet participate in the credit economy. However, students should have a basic understanding of how cybercriminals can use personal information that is shared online to open accounts in their name and destroy their credit or financial life before it even begins. Additionally, the advantage of a digital signature over an e-signature for signing important legal and financial documents is another basic understanding to have to help prevent identity theft and other types of fraud.

Relationships and Communication

Another focus of a digital citizenship curriculum should be relationships and communication. How we communicate online with one another is important to developing and maintaining relationships through digital communication. Assuring tone, inflection, and meaning are not misconstrued through email, texts, and other forms of digital communication will be an ongoing skill that students will work on and develop throughout their education and beyond.

Cyberbullying and Digital drama

It’s well known that Cyberbullying has become a serious problem that many schools are dealing with on a regular basis. It’s not only an abundant issue with more than 37% of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 reporting being bullied online, but the consequences can be destructive.

Young people who experience cyberbullying are at a much higher risk of self-harm and suicidal behaviors than those who don’t. Teaching students how to recognize cyberbullying and what to do if they experience or observe it is a fundamental part of an impactful digital citizenship curriculum in combination with strict zero-tolerance policies.

Digital Footprints and Reputation

Another key aspect of digital citizenship is understanding that everything posted online is permanent. Even if you delete messages or posts, there is still a digital record of all communications. Also, your digital footprint is directly correlated with your reputation. Anything you post online about yourself and what you are doing or anything you post about others including comments, pictures, and other forms of content, can resurface years later and harm your reputation.

All students should understand that their digital footprint can have consequences down the road that they could never have imagined, especially if they participate in cyberbullying and other forms of online harassment.

Creative Credit, Copyright, and Plagiarism

Creative credit, copyright, and plagiarism are topics that have come into focus in recent years, especially with the development of AI programs like ChatGPT. Students should understand the basics of why it is important to give creative credit to originators, what copyright is and how it works, as well as how plagiarism is fundamentally wrong, even as society is introducing the use of AI into more arenas.

Conclusion

As more and more young people are getting online at earlier ages, many would argue that from as early as kindergarten, we should at least be introduced to some ideas of digital citizenship. Then, once students start reaching the age of middle school and they are preparing to be more active online, schools should introduce curricula to help students navigate the digital world in a way that is safe and constructive.

About the Author:
Ryan Harris is a copywriter focused on eLearning and the digital transitions going on in the education realm. Before turning to writing full time, Ryan worked for five years as a teacher in Tulsa and then spent six years overseeing product development at many successful Edtech companies, including 2U, EPAM, and NovoEd.

With summer coming to an end and back-to-school season right around the corner, there’s no better time to prepare your kids for their first day back in the classroom. In these times, there may be heightened anxiety surrounding both in-person and online education options.

Many parents are concerned about their child’s physical and mental health, socialization skills, and even their ability to manage challenging curriculums. If you are experiencing similar worries, you are not alone. We have pulled together a few tips to help get you and your family in the best position to tackle the new school year and prepare your kids for their first day of school.

For Your Kids

Communicate With Your Kids

Communicating with your children on a regular basis creates a space where they feel comfortable to voice their opinions and concerns. It’s also the best way to understand how they are truly coping with the approaching school year.

Set aside time each night to listen and converse with your kids about their day, allowing them to express themselves with no judgment. When sitting down for a meal together, initiate a conversation using some relaxed conversation starters that get the dialogue flowing.

Leave all electronic devices turned off or in another room so that everyone is present, engaged and the conversation goes uninterrupted.

Meet with your kids one-on-one for more serious discussions, giving them a safe, quiet space to open up about how they are feeling mentally, or give them a chance to express excitement about the impending school year!

Communicating with your kids one-on-one also gives you a chance to learn about their current interests. Incorporate them into their back-to-school gear or activities to make your kids more comfortable and excited for their first day.

Familiarize Your Kids With the Classroom

Younger children can often be intimidated by a new classroom setting. Take time before their first day to tour the classroom if possible, as well as the school grounds.

Familiarize your kids with their teacher as well! Schedule an early meeting time on their first day of school so everyone can get to know each other. This can relieve some anxiety for both you and your child, and make the transition to a new classroom go a little smoother.

If your kids are online students, allow them to help design their workspace to make it an area they enjoy being in, while being sure it’s a space that supports their ability to focus and learn.

Look into ergonomic seating and desks that grow with them so they can use their learning space long-term.

Be sure to walk through the digital “classroom” as well to allow you and your child time to adapt to this hybrid learning environment. Knowing where assignments and important announcements are located online prevents unneeded stress once the school year ramps up.

Get Your Kids Organized

Back to school season gets hectic quickly, so start your back to school shopping now! Make sure they have the gear they need to start the school year off prepared and organized.

Buying new can get expensive quickly, so consider shopping second-hand to find back-to-school outfits that are like new. Bring your kids along so they can pick out outfits that match their style and interests. Feeling good in what they wear can give them an added confidence boost on their first day.

Getting your kids organized goes beyond just having the right binder, pens, and trendy backpack. Be sure to get them organized mentally as well. Summer often gets kids out of the regimented routine of a school day (as it should). But, this can hinder their focus going into the new school year if not addressed in the preceding weeks.

Start by adjusting their daily routine, so that the transition to the school day is more seamless. Earlier bedtimes and wake-up times will help to get them conditioned to waking up early for class.

Balanced nutrition also helps to improve their focus and keep them from needing a snack throughout the day. The food we eat directly affects our ability to focus, our overall energy levels, and our ability to fight off illnesses. Be sure to fuel your kids with the right food to get them feeling their best as they begin the school year. Also, use this time to learn what kind of foods they like to make sure they are eating a balanced meal that they enjoy during the school day.

For Parents

Stay Up to Date

Staying up to date with the latest school news, trends, and even health advisories can give you peace of mind when it’s time to send your kids off to school.

To avoid getting overwhelmed with information, search for resources that summarize information into digestible social posts, podcasts, or news articles.

Or, for more medical related news, consider following local health providers on social media to get quick, summarized, and updated posts on health conscious tips.

For example, WebMD’s podcast “Health Now” provides episodes that deliver timely advice to listeners. There are so many ways to remain up-to-date without inducing panic, you just have to find what works best for you and your family.

Reach out to your school district to find ways to stay connected and up to date with the steps they are taking to keep everyone safe and healthy, and also reach out to your child’s teacher! They can walk you through their process for the new school year whether their class takes place in person or online to ease any further worries.

Be Supportive, But Set Boundaries

Supporting your kids is a natural part of being a parent, but without setting boundaries, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and burned out, especially when the school year is in full swing.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle, but finding ways to find calm throughout your day can help to keep your kids organized and at ease as well.

Find ways to practice regular self-care. Whether it’s dedicating one hour a day to your favorite hobby, quiet time away from the kids, or just time to get caught up on chores without distractions. Make time for yourself. If you feel lost on where to start, check out resources like Parent Self Care to get some helpful ideas of how to unwind.

Or, try mindful practices like yoga, meditation, or exercise as a way to relieve stress and clear your mind. Consider adding these to your daily routine to balance your mental health with your physical health.

Be sure to communicate your need for space with your family. That way they can give you the support you need in return for the support you give them.

Setting boundaries takes effort. Hold yourself accountable and prioritize yourself so you can be your best when you return to work and family responsibilities.

Back-to-school season is a stressful time for parents and kids alike. We hope these tips will help your family take on this time with less worry and more excitement!

Quick Video Tips for Teachers Welcoming Kids Back to School

Whether it’s a child’s first day of kindergarten, grade one, or students returning for any grade, every new school year is a new beginning with many adjustments to be made. There are new faces, new teachers and new classrooms that present exciting, yet challenging situations.

Hopefully, parents have done everything they can think of to make returning to school a positive experience. So, here is a quick little video for teachers on one important way to make everyone in their classroom feel valued and part of the classroom. How to get their names right!

Discover more back to school tips for teachers.
Read why some kids love school!

For most parents, shuttling children from one place to another is an everyday affair. Parents transport kids to school, activities, errands, and back from morning to evening. That’s why a family cargo bike deisgned for kids has become a favorite alternative transport option for parents on the go.

If you’ve never seen a cargo bike or considered one for your family, you may not know how amazing these bicycles can be. The latest versions of electric cargo bikes are far more practical than traditional bicycles. The heavy load capacity offers families a multi-purpose, practical way to transport multiple kids and all their stuff just about anywhere they need to go.

In this article, we explore the benefits, designs, functionality, how to utilize cargo bikes for daily tasks, and tips and tricks for using cargo bikes for kids.

Benefits of Cargo Bikes for Kids

• Environmental Benefits: A family cargo bike is incredible for adventures and creating memories and serves as an excellent tool to teach children about the importance of environmental protection. Since cargo bikes are powered with a battery-powered rechargeable electricmotor and are powered by pedaling, making them an environmentally friendly method of travel. Families will also save time and money by skipping fossil fuels and avoiding overcrowded traffic lanes.

• Physical & Psychological Benefits: One of the most dangerous health trends for children comes from inactivity. Health professionals have stated that prolonged sitting has adverse health effects on our bodies, similar to those caused by smoking cigarettes. Adding a family cargo bike will excite kids about getting outside and being physically active.

• Relationship Building: When using cargo bikes for kids, every trip to the store or school is an adventure filled with exploration, conversation, and learning experiences. Sharing these journeys together helps to create relationship-building family memories and strong relationships that will continue long after a kid grows up and has a bike of their own.

Design And Functionality of Cargo Bikes

• Cargo Bike Designs and Types: Using a family cargo bike for transporting kids is available in a variety of designs and bicycle types. Some of the most popular cargo bike designs for children are long-tail cargo bikes, cargo tricycles, mid-tail cargo bikes, box bikes, and box tricycles. When searching for a cargo bike for sale, it is essential to remember that most designs also come with an option to add a battery-powered electric motor to assist with long trips and varying terrain types.

• Additional Features of Cargo Bikes: Cargo bikes for kids also include many additional features, such as extra comfy seats, seat belts, seat safety attachments, protective roofs, sun and rain canopies, table attachments, and more. These features allow children to stay safe and comfortable no matter how long the adventure lasts.

Utilizing Cargo Bikes for Everyday Tasks

• Transporting Children to School: With a family cargo bike, it is easy for parents to cycle children to and from school without the need for a second car or vehicle. Biking to school with a child gives parents more unique opportunities for conversations, learning experiences, and exploring the world around them together.

• Fun Cycling Activities with Kids: When cycling on a cargo bike with a child, there are an unlimited number of fun travel activities that parents can utilize. Families can play fun games during the journey, like looking for specific things in nature like “I Spy.” Parents can also teach kids about local landmarks, flora, fauna, and animals throughout the ride.

• Other fun activities to try are geocaching, Pokémon Go, exploring new playgrounds or parks, stopping for a picnic, or imagining what objects the clouds resemble. There are no limits on how many fun games families can share. Another benefit of cargo biking is discovering the growing community of biking families through social media or groups. Families will enjoy taking children on group rides, meeting like-minded people of all ages, and making new friends when they become participating members of local cargo bike groups.

Tips and Tricks for Using Cargo Bikes

• Safety Tips for Cargo Biking with Children: Keeping kids safe should be a top priority no matter what method of travel, and that is no different with cargo bikes for kids. Most cargo bike models have various safety features like child safety seats, three-point harness system seatbelts, roll cages, running boards, and strong cargo boxes. Riders should also stick to the designated bike route or trails when available for the ride and use additional biking safety gear for kids such as blinking safety lights, helmets, pads, and mirrors to ensure the safety of all the precious cargo aboard.

• Choosing the Right Bike Model: Choosing the right family cargo bike means exploring the features and models that best fit the group’s lifestyle. Variables such as how many children are in the family, how old a kid is, where they will ride the bike, how much cargo it needs to hold, and how far they plan to ride will all play a role in finding the perfect cargo bike for sale.

Conclusion

There’s a good reason why cargo bikes for kids and families have grown in popularity worldwide. With the many advantages and versatility of using an electric cargo bike, families can travel more, save money, improve overall health, reduce carbon footprints, increase quality time with children, and allow them to explore the world around them like never before. Add a family cargo bike to your home today to create new family pastimes that will positively impact a child for generations.

Read how to prepare your kids for their first day back to school.

Every child needs to be taught about the value of money, along with providing them with proper guidance on saving money as a student, and school is the best place to begin.  The earlier children understand how they can save money, the earlier they can begin building the foundations of their finances.

If you teach students how to save money while they are still in school, it would provide them with a path to the right direction in the future.

That being said, budgeting, financial literacy and money management are not exactly interesting to hear.

Partly why schools do not opt for teaching elementary students how to budget is due to the fact that it is a dry concept that is not likely to be of any interest to the students, and that they will not grasp it at this stage.

However, we have curated some incredibly interesting and creative methods to teach students how to save money.

Teaching students about saving money: why is it important?

The value of money and budgeting are indeed something that everyone needs to understand at some point in their life, but why is it so important to start this early?

Well, for one, teaching kids about frugality and similar techniques prepares them for the future. Building up a thorough understanding on saving money while they are children will strengthen their chances to achieve financial stability in the future.

They will eventually be heading to a university for higher studies in the future, and these skills would help them efficiently manage their budget and avoid going over when they are on their own.

How to teach students about money saving

1.   Assign a Clear Jar for the Class

Although a piggy bank works as well, you should instead opt to use a clear jar to promote savings for the students.

The reason for specifically using a clear jar is that it will provide kids with a visual. Being able to notice the progress they are making on savings is a great way to keep them motivated to the cause, and once they notice the jar filling up, they will want to save even more.

2.   Introduce them to coupons

When teaching your students about ways to save money as a student, show them the power of coupon codes.

Budgeting is an important aspect of money management, and redeeming discount codes can help stay within the budget.

Introduce them to coupon websites with printable coupons that are home to excellent savings from numerous different companies.  This will help them save up even when they go to the movies or decide to grab a bite to eat.  Coupons will make them aware of discounts that will help them budget more efficiently in the future.

3.   Set a Goal

It is essential to encourage students to come up with a savings goal like a unique gift they are wanting, when teaching them the value of money and saving.

This provides them with a purpose to keep in mind, which influences their dedication towards saving up. Students are more likely to add money into their savings more frequently if they know what they are working towards.

Once they have decided on their savings goal, provide them with guidance on how they can divide their goal into smaller subtasks that are easier to accomplish.

For instance, if a student’s savings goal is to gather enough for a $40 game when they earn a $20 weekly allowance, instruct them to divide the goal into 4 weeks, saving up $10 every week.

4.   Offer Them Incentives

Saving money can become quite frustrating for young students, who are impatient to spend it all as soon as possible. To avoid students burning through their savings, you can motivate them by offering incentives.

As a teacher, there is a lot you can do to make sure that your students are pumped up to save up! For instance, you can set a monthly competition between the students and promise extra marks or any other reward to the child that saves the most.

Final Words

You cannot teach kids dry concepts the same way you can teach adults. However, following this guide will provide you with some fun ways to get the value of saving up and budgeting across without losing their interest.