Kids today are growing up in a digital world that is new to many of us. Even if we were online as teens, or later, it’s hard to imagine looking around a room and seeing countless internet-connected kids. From cellphones and tablets to “smart” assistants, vacuums, fridges, laptops and more, there’s an Internet of Things version of just about everything, everywhere.
With so much technology at our kids’ fingertips, it’s on us to help keep them safe and informed online. The good news is that it’s never too early to start teaching safe internet habits. Simple lessons about how devices work, how much time should be spent online and which activities to avoid can make a meaningful difference in keeping kids safe.
After all, when you give a child a bike, you don’t send them straight into traffic. You start by teaching them how it works, then how to ride safely and when it’s okay to ride on their own. As the organization behind .CA, and one that’s committed to making Canada’s internet safer, we want to make sure as many kids (and adults!) as possible are riding their hypothetical bikes safely.
Of course, we know that teaching good cybersecurity practices is easier said than done. With full curricula, limited time and stretched resources, building cyber skills into the classroom can be a challenge for teachers. That’s why, for Safer Internet Day, we wanted to do our part to help local kids learn more about how to stay safe online.
Safer Internet Day is a global event dedicated to promoting a safer, more responsible use of the internet, including raising awareness around cyberbullying, harmful content and other online risks.
But the great white north had other plans. A true Canadian snowstorm swept in on Safer Internet Day, which fell on February 10 this year. While schools remained open, buses were cancelled, meaning many students stayed home. We can’t say for sure what caused the storm, but Morty the Moose may have been spotted the night before with his pajamas inside out with a spoon tucked under his pillow.
After Morty dug us out of several snowbanks, we made it to a local Ottawa school one week later for an educational session with students from grades 1 to 3. Morty and our team read cyber safety books that introduced topics like safe clicking, online kindness and protecting personal information, including favourites like Chicken Clicking and Troll Stinks by Jeanne Willis.
Post-story time, we hosted a hands-on cyber safety activity session with age-appropriate activities including mazes, crosswords and more, all centred around online safety. And yes, these worksheets are available for everyone—whether you’re a teacher, parent or maybe even a tech-savvy kid?
The kids were thrilled to meet Morty and the session helped build a positive connection between cybersecurity and play from a young age. Because honestly, we really do believe cybersecurity can be fun.
What did we learn?
It’s never too early to introduce online topics into children’s lives, even in a low-key way.
