Kids-health is a site packed with hints and tips to keep you and the family healthy.
How To Be Safe Online – Kids’ Guide
When the Kids-Health team were little, the most technological toy was called Atari. It was a games console that would let you play tennis. And if you got bored of playing tennis you could play tennis against a friend by using the exciting two player option. And then, oh what fun, you could play tennis against a wall and bash it down brick by brick. In fact, tennis was it’s limit so how on earth did we end up with so much technological wizardry today?
Nowadays, you kids have tons of gadgets at your disposal. You may have a Playstation, xBox or a Nintendo Wii or Ninetemdo DSi. Perhaps you have an Ipod, or you might be lucky enough to have your own laptop. These are all fabulous fun and you might be a kid who would happily play with gadgets all day, everyday and all night if given a chance?
So one thing concerns us grown-ups, and if it concerns the grown-ups you had better take notice – how to be safe online. It’s a big and important question and it’s a good idea to remember one or two things… in fact make that 5 things and you’ll be rockin’.
SMART RULES (from CEOP) – 5 THINGS
S for Safe
Keep safe by being careful not to give out personal information – such as your full name, email, phone number, home address, or school name – to people who you don’t trust online.
M for Meeting
Meeting someone you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. Only do so with your parents’ or carers’ permission and even then only when they can be present.
A for Accepting
Accepting emails, IM messages, or opening files, pictures or texts from people you don’t know or trust can lead to problems – they may contain viruses or nasty messages!
R for Reliable
Someone online might lie about who they are, and information on the internet may not be reliable. Check information or advice with other websites, books, or someone who knows.
T for Tell
Tell your parent, carer or a trusted adult if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried, or if you or someone you know is being bullied online.
So 5 bits of information, written to help kids like you stay safe online. Talk about them with a grown-up and see if you can memorise them.
For groovy games and very interesting videos you can click here. In the website that pops up you select the section for your age group and away you go! If you click on the picture below you will get a large version that you can print and stick next to your computer to remind you of the SMART rules.
Have fun but STAY SMART and SAFE!