This post is brought to you by Google. All opinions are my own.
There are small holidays every single day- from National Grilled Cheese Day to National Bubble Bath Day. Some of them are more important than others, and today happens to be a very important one- Safer Internet Day!
I’m a Millennial, and I am firmly in the middle of that age bracket. That means I didn’t have a computer in my house when I was a toddler- that didn’t come along until fifth grade, and even then I could only access a handful of websites on my dial-up internet. Internet safety was talked about, but it mostly consisted of reminders not to tell strangers in chat rooms {remember chat rooms?!} where you lived, and that pop-up ads could give you viruses.
Now I’m a parent and my older son is the same age I was when we got a computer. Not only has my vantage point changed, but the internet has as well. Over the last 20 years, the internet has become more of a place than a thing. We often go online to “hang out” with our friends whether on social media or while playing video games. We no longer avoid all strangers on the internet- some of my best friends are people I met on Instagram or through blogging. Of course, I’m an adult and can use my best judgement when it comes to talking to strangers- and that’s why Safer Internet Day is so important to help us work “together for a better internet.”
These days, kids are going far beyond the ancient typing classes and Oregon Trail sessions we had in grade school. They’re accessing the internet at school and at home and while we of course like to monitor and check on what they’re doing, it’s still so important to be proactive in making sure kids know how to safely navigate the internet. But there can be a lot to cover- the internet is huge and there’s a lot to think about, whether it be cyber bullying, scammers, identity theft, or many other things kids can encounter. And if your kids are like mine, they don’t particularly listen when they’re getting told what to do. So how do you teach your kids how to use the internet safely?
Luckily, the experts at Google have put together some amazing resources for doing just that. They have a great 32-page guide for parents to help navigate the conversation, covering topics like online privacy, oversharing, safe search, misinformation, hackers, being kind, and telling a grown up if something does happen. Each section of the guide has a list of goals for that topic, some helpful tips before you start discussing the topic at hand with your family, and some family activities that you can work on together to get your kids involved and really let the message sink in. Instead of just telling your kids a bunch of facts, you can really help them understand why these steps are important to take and how they can help make sure your family is safe online. {Download the guide here!}
To really drive the lesson home, you can let them play Interland! It’s a fun online game that makes learning about digital safety fun and interactive. Kids help “Internauts” fight against hackers, phishers, oversharers, and bullies by practicing their skills and learning at the same time! Find the link to play Interland right here.
If you have kids who are accessing the internet at home or at school- or are getting close to that age- be sure to check out these amazing tools available from Google in honor of Safer Internet Day! {It would also be a great idea to share these resources with your child’s teacher!}
Today is a great day to have a conversation with your kids about using the internet safely. How will you Be Internet Awesome today?
Be sure to check out the great resources available from Google on their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages!
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