Disclosure: As a member of the Forward Influence Network, I’m sharing with you some ways to teach kids internet safety, how to spread kindness online, and what to do about bullying as part of the Be Internet Awesome initiative. #ItsCoolToBeKind #BeInternetAwesome
If you’ve spent more than a few minutes on social media in the last few years, you’ll have noticed how more and more online sources are filled with negative messaging than you may be used to seeing, you’re not alone. Worse still, this pervasive social adversity is greatly affecting our children and students.
Which is why it is vital that we instill in future generations the necessity of being kind to others online. That by stopping the spread of negative on the Internet, we actively seek to promote good citizenship and social skills – something that will help safeguard our children from Internet bullying as a whole.
Facts about Bullying
Is bullying a pervasive reality for children online? Absolutely. In fact, according to the latest stats, 28% of school-aged students have been bullied and 71% have seen bullying happen each school year. Behaviors that often cascade to online platforms. With 11% of students in grades 2–8, 15% of high school students, and overwhelming 55.2% of LGBTQ students experiencing cyberbullying in the past year. Making internet safety, especially for children, a top priority for parents and educators the nation over.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
October is also National Bullying Prevention Month. A month-long initiate started in 2006 by PACER to help create a world without bullying by providing information and resources for parents, schools, and communities. With numerous resources on their website, you’ll find a lot of great digital safety tools for both homes and in the classroom at g.co/BeInternetAwesome.
Showing parents and educators the best way to prevent bullying is to equip our kids with proactive measures to enable them to handle online bullying. starting with teaching them how to practice kindness at home. Showing them how to be good citizens, in real life, and how these actions should be carried into their online life. By doing so, we can help stop bullying in its tracks.
And that’s why I’m excited to share three ways to teach kids to be kind online and to introduce a brand new, free online program to aid parents, educators, and homeschoolers how to prevent Internet bullying.
What is Be Internet Awesome?
International Society of Technology in Education is Google’s free multifaceted program designed to teach kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence. The program is available in English and Spanish and consists of an International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) standards-aligned curriculum.
Full of ready-made Pear Decks for each lesson, Interland – an adventure-packed online game about digital safety and citizenship.
Our five areas of Internet awesomeness:
- SMART: Where we learn to share with care
- ALERT: Where we learn not to fall for fake
- STRONG: Where we learn how to secure Our digital stuff
- KIND: Where we learn that itʼs cool to be kind
- BRAVE: Where we learn that when in doubt, we talk it out
Take a look at how this curriculum can help kids become good online citizens. Here’s how!
Set the example.
If you want your children to be kind to others online and otherwise, you must first set the example of kindness in your own home. Modeling the path to compassion, empathy, and diversity you expect children to be kind online if they don’t see us behaving in a kind manner with those in our circles in our everyday lives. Let your children see you comment positively to others. Whether that be to an everyday situation, towards other family members, to service workers, and on online platforms as well.
This is an especially useful tool when discussing current events and human interest stories with children. Instead of avoiding speaking about negative topics, speak life and hope into online reports by explaining topics to children. In lieu of avoiding heavy topics, try discussing human experiences by way of news stories. Sharing with your children better and more proactive ways that such situations could be better executed in the future. Empathizing the aspects that being a truth teller, and speaking truth to power can be done in a kind and compassionate manner.
Speak about safety.
Encourage your children to openly, and safely, comes to the aid of fellow classmates, friends, and community members who are bullied or they witness being bullies. Help them brainstorm possible responses to witnessed bullying and help them brainstorm ways to report bullying of peers. While simultaneously encouraging them to seek out positive, uplifting, age-appropriate media sources to visit online.
Explaining that it’s better to surround yourselves with sources of information that encourage you to think and grow while avoiding sites that do not. When we give children positive things to consider, we make it easier for them to spot bullying and equip them with the fortitude to handle such situations in an appropriate manner.
Show them how to thoughtful online.
A helpful resource for modeling kindness online is Be Internet Awesome, a comprehensive curriculum from Google that helps educators, homeschoolers, and parents share with students how to be good Internet citizens. This program features ready-made curriculum and class activities to teach with kids, both at school or home, how to practice the arts of encouragement, kindness, empathy, and safety. Relevant information for their tech-savvy, internet-inspired generation moving forward.
Want to make learning about Internet kindness fun? Let the kids play Interland, where they can make their way through the Kind Kingdom, a virtual environment that shows them how to make thoughtful decisions when interacting with others.
Teach your Child to be an Upstander, not a Bystander
In any situation, a bystander does little more than watch situations unfold. Including bullying. In contrast, an upstander is someone who tries to help make it better. Not everyone likes being in the position of being an upstander. It’s hard. Often uncomfortable and awkward. But it’s a necessary stance to take. Which is why children should be taught ways to be an upstander though kindness and everpresent showing of compassion by:
- Tell an Adult. This is always my number one rule. Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult what is happening. Speak with your kids about who might be a trusted adult in different situations, such as at school, in aftercare, or online.
- Be Kind. The target of bullying needs friends. Talk with your children about finding ways to be that friend and to spread kindness to those affected by bullying. Including inviting those being bullied to hang out with them at lunch or to act as a listener to their situation.
- Never Engage with Bullies. Remind your child that it’s okay to call out bullying behavior without fighting back. That will most often make it worse and negate their position of compassion and kindness.
Internet Safety Tips for Parents and Guardians
A few last tips for promoting internet safety for kids includes parents and guardians setting expectations for internet use. Starting by showing your child appropriate online behavior and what sites they are allowed to visit. Then as your children grow, internet safety rules will need to be modified to grow with them. Here are a few tips to get started with young children:
- Monitor your child while they are online.
- Keep all devices in common spaces and collect them before bed.
- Use parental controls on your browser.
- Install mature content filtering software and add-ons.
- Know the game ratings for games your children play (check out these game rating sheet).
- Teach your kids internet safety basics.
- Make a general rule of now allowing your children to shop online without you.
More Internet Safety for Kids Resources:
For me, ending childhood bullying starts with equipping children with the skillset is requires to be a kind, empathetic person into adulthood. For me, those lessons came from my grandmother. Who taught me that when it comes to dealing with others, always ask yourself the question – “Would Grandmother fell proud for the way I am speaking to people right now?” This has been a cornerstone of my adult life and I believe it is also a great way for kids to think about their behavior towards others as well. Both online and in real life. After all, If they wouldn’t want Grandmother to hear it, they probably shouldn’t say it! Am I, right?
Friends, you can learn more about how to Be Internet Awesome at g.co/BeInternetAwesome and tell your kids’ teachers about the online curriculum so they can introduce these activities in the classroom. Now I want to ask, have your children been the victims of bullying? What are your best tips for combating this at home?
Google for Education Online:
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