Internet Safety Tools for Teachers

What can teachers of 10- to 11-year-old children do to help keep them safe?

Reinforce that the Internet is a public place just like the store, the neighbourhood, the playground or going to someone's house.
Help students find safe ways for privacy (e.g. an offline diary, notebook, talking to friends face-to-face, etc.).
Talk to students about the importance of valuing their own and other’s personal information. Teach students to respect their friends' personal information including pictures. A friend’s personal information should not be shared without the friend’s permission.
Discuss with students how easily information shared with someone can be misused.
Explain to students that once a picture is sent online they lose control of what is done with it. The picture may never be completely removed from the Internet. Explain that information can be misused by some people so it needs to be protected.
Teach students to take a leadership role and not forward inappropriate messages about others.

Explain to students that there is no need or urgency to respond to messages that someone sends to them. Teach students not to respond to messages that make them feel uncomfortable, scared or unsure and to tell a safe adult if they do receive such a message.
Review with students the difference between a KEEP and a SPEAK Secret. A KEEP Secret is harmless and will eventually come out, like a birthday present; a SPEAK Secret is one that children are told never to tell, like being threatened by someone or a secret about touching or picture-taking. Tell students that SPEAK Secrets need to be told to a safe adult.
Discuss the concept of anonymity on the Internet with students — people can pretend to be anyone.
Talk about friendship with students: what it is and isn't . Explain that new friendships started online need to be adult-supervised and that children should never meet someone in person they first met online without an accompanying parent.

Children have access to vast amounts of information online. This offers incredible opportunities, but it also offers exposure to explicit and harmful content. Encourage students to talk to you if they come across something upsetting without having to fear getting into trouble.

Reinforce that the Internet is a public place just like the store, the neighbourhood, the playground or going to someone's house.
Help students find safe ways for privacy (e.g. an offline diary, a notebook, talking to friends face to face, etc.).
Reinforce the importance of being careful with whom students choose to share their personal thoughts and information, and considering how it can be misused.
Reinforce the importance of respecting other's private information.
Explain to students that once a picture is sent online they lose control of what is done with it and that it may never be completely removed from the Internet.

Explain to students that there is no need or urgency to respond to messages. Teach students not to respond to messages that make them feel uncomfortable, scared or unsure and to tell a safe adult if they receive such a message.
Teach students that it is illegal for people to manufacture, possess or distribute naked or sexually explicit pictures of children under 18 years of age. Tell students that they need to tell a safe adult if they are presented with this situation.
Explain to students that it is illegal to threaten someone online or offline. If someone threatens them, they need to tell a safe adult.
Reinforce the concept of anonymity on the Internet and that people can pretend to be anyone.
Talk about healthy and unhealthy relationships. Explain that relationships started online need to be adult supervised. Children should never meet someone in person that they first met online without an accompanying parent.

Children have access to vast amounts of information online. This offers incredible opportunity, but it also offers exposure to explicit and harmful content. Encourage students to talk to you if they come across something that is upsetting reassuring them that you will not be angry.
Provide a standard of measure about healthy relationships and healthy sexuality that your child can compare to when trying to make sense of media messages.
Encourage students to think critically about information rather than assuming it is an accurate representation.