Guide to Digital Citizenship for Kids

Digital citizenship is about using tech and the internet safely, responsibly, and ethically. Here's what kids need to know:

Online Safety: Use strong passwords, don't share personal info, report uncomfortable situations
Responsible Behavior: Be respectful, think before posting, spot and report cyberbullying
Digital Literacy: Check multiple sources, understand digital footprints
Balanced Use: Follow screen time limits, do offline activities
Digital Rights: Respect copyright, use privacy settings

Key tips for kids:

Be kind online
Keep personal info private
Think before you post
Balance screen time with real-world activities
Tell a trusted adult if something feels wrong

Parents and teachers play a crucial role in guiding kids to become responsible digital citizens. Open communication and setting good examples are key.

Aspect	Online	Real Life
Secrets	Password	Treehouse code
Personal Info	Things you don't share online	Stuff you only tell best friends
Footprint	Digital tracks you leave	Footprints in snow
Bullying	Cyberbullying	Being mean at recess
Limits	Screen time	Eating too much candy

Remember: The digital world is always changing, so keep learning and adapting your online habits.

Staying Safe Online

Kids need to know how to stay safe online. Let's look at some key ways to help them use the internet securely.

Making Good Passwords

Strong passwords are your first defense online. Here's how kids can make them:

Mix uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
Make them at least 12 characters long
Don't use personal info like birthdays or pet names
Use different passwords for each account

Think about using a password manager like LastPass or 1Password. These tools can create and store tough passwords safely.

Keeping Private Info Safe

Kids need to know what info to keep private online. Here's a quick guide:

Keep Private	Why
Full name	Stops identity theft
Home address	Keeps you physically safe
Phone number	Avoids unwanted calls
School name	Keeps you secure
Social Security number	Prevents money fraud
Passwords	Keeps accounts safe

Tell kids to ask a trusted adult before sharing any personal info online.

Spotting Online Dangers

Kids need to know about online threats. Here are some common ones:

Phishing: Fake messages trying to steal your info
Scams: Offers that seem too good to be true
Cyberbullying: Mean behavior from others online
Bad content: Stuff that's not okay for kids to see

Tell kids to trust their gut. If something feels weird, talk to an adult right away.

Safe Web Browsing

To browse safely:

Use kid-friendly search engines like Kiddle or KidzSearch
Turn on SafeSearch in Google and YouTube's restricted mode
Use ad-blockers to avoid bad ads
Close pop-ups without clicking them
Use bookmarks for favorite sites instead of typing web addresses

Online Footprints

Kids should know their online actions leave a trail. Here's how to explain it:

"Think of walking on a beach. Each step leaves a footprint. Online, every post, comment, or like is like a footprint in the sand. These can last a long time and lots of people can see them."

To manage their digital footprint, kids should:

Think before posting: Is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, and Kind (THINK)?
Use privacy settings on social media
Don't share too much personal info or photos
Remember that even deleted stuff might still be online somewhere

Being Kind Online

Teaching kids to be kind online is just as crucial as teaching them good manners in real life. Let's dive into how we can help children communicate well and build positive relationships on the internet.

Good Online Behavior

Being respectful online is key to good digital citizenship. Here's how kids can practice good online behavior:

Use polite language in posts and comments
Think before posting: Would you say this in person?
Disagree respectfully if you don't share someone's opinion
Avoid using ALL CAPS (it's like shouting)

Remember: There's a real person behind every screen name. Treating others with kindness online creates a better digital environment for everyone.

Online Friendships

Building healthy online relationships is a crucial skill for kids. Here's how to guide them:

Do's	Don'ts
Set clear boundaries	Share personal info with strangers
Talk to parents about online friends	Meet online friends alone
Be yourself in interactions	Pretend to be someone else
Take breaks from online socializing	Chat online excessively

Encourage kids to balance their online and offline friendships. Face-to-face connections are just as important as digital ones.

Stopping Online Bullying

Cyberbullying is a serious issue many kids face. Here's how to help prevent and handle it:

1. Recognize the signs

Changes in mood, avoiding social situations, or hiding screens might indicate cyberbullying.

2. Document evidence

Save screenshots of harmful posts or messages.

3. Block and report

Teach kids how to block bullies and report incidents on social media platforms.

4. Don't respond or retaliate

Bullies often want a reaction, so it's best to ignore their attacks.

5. Talk to a trusted adult

Encourage kids to speak up if they're being bullied or witness bullying.

"The skills they learn in this BE INTERNET AWESOME program gives them power to make good choices." - Author, Blogger

Google's "Be Internet Awesome" program offers great resources to teach kids about digital citizenship and how to be "upstanders" - people who support targets of cyberbullying and help stop incidents.

Teaching kids what's okay to share online is crucial. Here's a quick guide:

Safe to Share	Keep Private
Hobbies and interests	Full name
Positive accomplishments	Home address
General opinions on topics	Phone number
Fun, appropriate photos	School name
Kind comments and support	Passwords

Remind kids: Once something's posted online, it can be hard to completely remove. Think twice before sharing anything personal or potentially embarrassing.

Understanding Others Online

Fostering empathy in online conversations helps create a kinder digital world. Here's how to help kids show understanding:

Consider how their words might make others feel
Clarify misunderstandings through face-to-face conversations when possible
Leave positive, supportive comments on friends' posts
Respectfully disagree without being unkind

Privacy and Security Tips

Let's talk about keeping kids safe online. Here are some practical ways to protect their info and devices.

Social media can be fun, but it needs to be set up safely:

Action	Why It Matters
Make profiles private	Limits who sees your kid's content
Check friend lists often	Keeps access to known people only
Turn off location	Stops strangers knowing where your kid is
Use strong, unique passwords	Makes hacking harder

Don't forget to check these settings regularly. Social media platforms love to change things up.

Protecting Your Information

Kids need to know what to keep private. Here's a quick guide:

OK to share: Favorite color, hobbies, thoughts on kid-friendly stuff
Never share: Full name, address, phone number, school name, passwords

Ask your kid: "Would you be cool if everyone at school saw this?" It's a good way to make them think before posting.

Website Tracking

Websites use cookies to follow what you do online. Here's the scoop:

Cookies are small files that remember what you like and what you've been up to online. To handle them:

Use private browsing when you can
Clear cookies often
Be careful about accepting all cookies on websites

Screen Time Limits

Kids need a balance between online and offline time. The American Academy of Pediatrics says:

Age	How Much Screen Time
Under 18 months	None, except video chats
18-24 months	Good stuff, with grown-ups watching
2-5 years	1 hour a day of quality shows
6 and up	Set limits, don't mess with sleep or other activities

Christine Elgersma from Common Sense Media says:

"Kids love to be in the know about these things, and it will give them a sense of power."

Get your kids involved in setting their own limits. It helps them get why balance matters.

Device Safety

Keeping devices safe is just as important as protecting the info on them. Here's how:

1. Use parental controls: Most devices have these built-in to limit what kids can access.

2. Keep software updated: This makes sure you have the latest security fixes.

3. Teach safe downloading: Only get apps from official stores like Google Play or Apple's App Store.

4. Use antivirus software: It's an extra shield against nasty stuff online.

5. Set up device passwords: This stops others from getting in if the device is lost or stolen.

The goal isn't to scare kids, but to make them feel in control. Amanda Jo Haney, MSW, puts it well:

"ALSO – NEVER GIVE OUT YOUR ADDRESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA! Don't even tell anyone you don't know what city you live in or what school you go to."

Online Rights and Rules

Kids need to know what's okay and not okay online. Let's break it down.

Using Others' Work

When you use stuff others made, remember:

Do This	Don't Do This
Give credit	Copy without asking
Use "free to use" content	Think everything's free
Ask when unsure	Use copyrighted stuff
Learn about Creative Commons	Ignore copyright notices

Think of every creative work as having a "no trespassing" sign. That's copyright law in action.

Making Online Content

When you create stuff online:

Be original
Respect privacy
Think before you post
Keep it clean

Respecting Digital Property

Taking digital stuff without permission? Not cool. Here's why:

It's not fair to the creator
It can get you in trouble
It doesn't help you be creative

Being a Good Online Citizen

Being good online means thinking about others. Remember:

Treat people with respect
Report bad behavior
Keep your personal info private
Be careful what you post

Heather Bowcutt from KidsEmail.org says:

"Teaching digital responsibility early is key as kids move from playground to Facebook friends."

Sharing online is fun, but do it right:

Only share what you're allowed to
Give credit
Don't share others' personal info
Use privacy settings

Emily Post, etiquette expert, reminds us:

"Treating others with care in small ways could change the world."

Learning Tools

Teaching digital citizenship doesn't have to be boring. There are tons of fun resources to help kids learn about staying safe and acting responsibly online. Let's check out some of the best tools:

Online Learning Sites

A few websites offer top-notch digital citizenship lessons:

Website	What's Cool	Who It's For
Common Sense Education	Interactive stuff, content you can tweak, resources in English and Spanish	K-12 kids
Be Internet Awesome	Free "Interland" game, educational materials	Elementary and middle schoolers
PBS Learning Media	Videos, interactive lessons, docs on 10 digital citizenship topics	PreK-12 students

Common Sense Education's Digital Citizenship Curriculum is a standout. They teamed up with Harvard Graduate School of Education to create research-based lessons on important stuff like balancing screen time, protecting privacy, and dealing with cyberbullying.

Teaching Materials

Teachers and parents can grab ready-to-use lesson plans:

AT&T's Achievery gives you free PDF lesson plans from different sources. They cover everything from digital citizenship basics to advanced topics like AI algorithms.

Google's Be Internet Awesome comes with a curriculum you can download and the "Interland" game. Here's what an ISTE educator had to say:

"Be Internet Awesome teaches kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence."

Family Chat Topics

Get the conversation going at home with these digital citizenship topics:

1. Online vs. Real Life: Talk about how stuff you do online can affect your offline world.

2. Digital Footprint: Explain that things posted online can stick around forever.

3. Think Critically: Discuss how to spot fake news and evaluate online info.

4. Cyberbullying: Cover how to recognize, report, and stop online bullying.

5. Screen Time: Work together to set healthy limits on device use.

Learning Games

Make digital citizenship fun with these games:

Game	What It Teaches	Age Group
Interland	Online safety, critical thinking	8-12 years
Digital Passport	Digital citizenship skills	Grades 3-5
Digital Compass	Making smart choices online	Middle school

Heads up: Digital Passport is going away on June 30, 2025. Enjoy it while you can!

Homeschool Directory

Homeschooling? Homeschool Directory has a bunch of digital citizenship resources:

Curriculum suggestions
Online safety worksheets
Forums to share tips and experiences with other families

Summary

Kids need to learn digital citizenship in our tech-heavy world. Here's what you need to know:

Online Safety and Privacy

Kids should:

Use strong, unique passwords
Ask parents before downloading anything
Tell an adult about uncomfortable online situations

They shouldn't:

Share personal info online
Click suspicious links
Meet online friends in person without permission

Responsible Online Behavior

Before posting, kids should ask: Is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, and Kind (THINK)?

They need to:

Be respectful in digital interactions
Spot and report cyberbullying

Digital Literacy

It's important for kids to:

Check info from multiple sources
Get how the internet works
Know about digital footprints and their lasting impact

Balanced Tech Use

Kids should:

Follow screen time limits
Do offline activities and talk face-to-face
Take breaks from devices for digital wellness

Protecting Digital Rights

Teach kids to:

Respect copyright and give credit for others' work
Share content responsibly
Use privacy settings

Digital citizenship is always changing. As tech evolves, so should how we teach kids to use the digital world safely.

"Teaching digital responsibility early is key as kids move from playground to Facebook friends." - Heather Bowcutt, KidsEmail.org

Parents and teachers are crucial in guiding kids' digital journey. Open communication and good examples help kids become confident, responsible digital citizens.

Homeschooling families can find great resources on digital citizenship at Homeschool Directory. They offer curriculum ideas and online safety worksheets to help create a solid digital citizenship education plan for your child.

FAQs

How do you explain digital citizenship to a child?

Explaining digital citizenship to a child is about making online behavior easy to understand. Here's a simple way to break it down:

Be nice online: Treat people on the internet like you would in person. No mean comments or bullying.

Keep secrets safe: Don't share personal stuff like your address or phone number online.

Think first, post later: Before you share something, ask yourself: "Is this true? Is it kind?"

Don't forget the real world: Spend time playing outside and talking to people face-to-face, not just on screens.

Speak up if something's wrong: If you see something online that makes you feel weird or scared, tell a grown-up you trust.

To make these ideas stick, try comparing them to things kids already know:

Online Stuff	Real-Life Stuff
Password	Your secret treehouse code
Personal info	Things you only tell your best friend
Digital footprint	Tracks you leave in the snow
Cyberbullying	Being mean at recess
Screen time	Eating too much candy

The goal? Help kids make smart choices when they're online. As Devorah Heitner, who wrote a book about kids and tech, puts it:

"To teach digital citizenship, focus on: 1. Empathy. 2. How the internet works. 3. Understanding user data. 4. Practicing digital literacy. 5. Acknowledging the digital divide. 6. Practicing digital wellness. 7. Securing digital devices."