February 6, 2020 is Safer Internet Day
Raising children in the age of smartphones and social media brings new challenges and concerns. To help parents address this topic, National PTA has partnered with several organizations to provide you with toolkits that will help you encourage parents and kids to have proactive conversations about safely and responsibly using technology.

Whether you are taking these resources to your child's school, PTA meeting or planning for an awesome conversation with your kids at home, everything you need and more is here! 

Connect on Social Media

Use # SmartTalk to connect with others having a SmartTalk with kids
Use #SaferInternetDay to connect with others around the world celebrating Safer Internet Day
Use #CommonSenseEd to connect with schools running a Connecting Families Program
Use #Cyberbullying to raise awareness

Get Started - Host a Family Event!


Host a PTA Connected Event: National PTA has a variety of toolkits and grant opportunities for taking charge of a digital life! 
  • National PTA + TikTok - As part of our PTA Connected initiative, National PTA has teamed up with TikTok to help parents learn more about how their teens are using this highly popular social video sharing app, educate families about safety on the app and guide parents in having open, ongoing conversations with their teens to ensure they are using social media productively and responsibly.
  • Google's Be Internet Awesome - an interactive night where families engage with one another in meaningful conversations about raising children in an online world.
  • Facebook Digital Families Event Workshops - an interactive presentation that includes statistics on social media and technology use
  • LifeLock: The Smart Talk - empowers families to have honest conversations about digital wellbeing and device usage by creating a personalized contract.

​Start a Connecting Families Program: This Toolkit from Common Sense Media (and endorsed by the National PTA), will help you create a year long program that encourages safe digital lives. You start by hosting a Teen Panel, and then follow-up throughout the year with Conversation Cases, which help coach parents on having authentic and meaningful conversations or a variety of topics. The Toolkit includes a Family Toolbox of materials that parents can use at home.

Host a 7 Steps to Digital Safety Night: This toolkit from the Family Online Safety Institute will help parents manage their child’s online life. It includes a PowerPoint presentation, instructional video, presenters guide, handouts and a family safety contract. It includes tips for having a clean data footprint and addresses student data privacy.

Resources

WEBSITES:
  • Common Sense Media (This program is taught in Loudoun's schools)  Tools to help create good digital citizens. This site also includes a library of ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites, books, and music.
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  • ConnectSafely: Research based safety tips, parents’ guidebooks, advice, news and commentary on all aspects of technology use and policy.
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  • Netsmartz (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children): An interactive, age-appropriate resource to teach children how to be safer on and offline. 
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  • Net Cetera (OnGuardOnline.Gov): Parent friendly guides with information from the Federal Trade Commission on how to protect your child from identity theft and phishing scams
 
  • Smart Talk: Help determine if it's time for a smartphone or other connected devices and social media accounts, and set limits for responsible usage.

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