Be Internet Awesome Family Workshop

February 13, 2020 @ 5:30 PM, Alki Cafeteria

Is your child ready for a Smartphone?  It can be a difficult decision, and how we come to our decision sets the tone as we develop our family’s digital citizenship.  Everyone has a part in keeping our community safe online, but your family’s digital citizenship is unique and built around \personal values and beliefs. It is important for our children to participate in discussions about the digital world.  

There is no magic unique age when all kids are ready for a device of their own… here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Start by asking your kids why they think phones are important (try to get beyond answers like “because everyone has one”).
  • Talk about your expectations, it’s valuable to discuss them even if they aren’t ready for a Smartphone of their own.
  • Discuss how they would use their phone if and when they receive one and think of ways those things can be done without using a phone.

 

We hope you’ll attend Alki’s Be Internet Awesome Family Workshop on February 13, 2020,at 5:30 PM in the cafeteria. Everyone that attends will receive a door prize and be entered in a raffle for a chance to win donated items from Relay and Google.  Email secretary@alkipta.com If you have questions and visit our Facebook Events page to RSVP. 

 

Alki Elementary PTA received a $1, 000 grant to host a Google Be Internet Awesome Family Workshop.   The workshop will provide tools and activities to enforce healthy guidelines and boundaries.  Please join us in the Alki lunchroom on February 13, 2019, at 5:30 PM and enjoy refreshments/food with your community,   By attending, you will be entered to win 1 of 2 Relay devices. Relay is a smartphone alternative for young children. The device tracks your child via GPS, alerts you if they go outside of a designated area, and behaves like walkie-talkies, so they are easy for little ones to use. 

In the meantime, below are some guidelines to consider regarding elementary aged children and the internet:

Set up accounts together. By creating usernames and passwords together, you can begin walking kids through the basics of safe and appropriate online behavior.
Keep the computer in a central place. This will let you monitor your child’s online life and track screen time.
Don’t let them go online by themselves. Remember, the social skills they bring to online worlds are the same ones they have (or don’t have) in real life.
Do your homework. Make sure you check out sites before you let your kids go online, and don’t settle for the most popular social sites.
Show kids how to flag inappropriate conduct. It’s easy for parents to learn how to use the flagging feature, and it’s important to show your kids how to use it, too. Explain that this is a healthy way to keep social-networking sites safe and fun for everyone.
Make sure your children never share their passwords. Often kids will give other children their passwords for help in a game. Explain that giving away a password is like giving someone a part of your identity.

 

Take the Pledge

 

Play your way to Internet Awesome.

Interland is a playful online game that makes learning about digital safety and citizenship interactive and fun — just like the Internet itself. Here, kids will help their fellow Internauts combat the badly behaved hackers, phishers, oversharers and bullies by practicing the skills they need to be good digital citizens.