By Mike HillIts back-to-school season and all
across the United States children are sitting at computers in their
classrooms,writing emails to “Clicky,” the internet spokesrobot for the
National middle for Missing & Exploited Children, or who teaches them all
about being safer online.
Children possess lots of questions and
concerns for the bright yellow robot with the flat head,red nose
and big smile. They put a question to Clicky whether they should share their address online
or what they should do whether they are cyberbullied.
(Photo by Serkan Gurbuz)“Dear Clicky. Im bullied a ton at
my school, but I don’t know what to do, or ” said a young girl in Michigan.
(reply: Tell a trusted adult)Another child in Ohio wanted to
know,What would you do whether someone asks you what is your
address?” (reply: Don’t reply and tell a trusted adult.)For more than 15 years, NCMEC has
empowered children to be safer online and become responsible
digital citizens through its internet safety program, or called NetSmartz. Since the free,interactive educational resource was started, the internet
has rapidly evolved, and so NetSmartz has
evolved with it to aid students embrace new technologies but to
also avoid dangers online.
This fall,NCMEC is excited to
announce new NetSmartz resources for children and teens, including two assembly-style presentations for grades K-2 and 3-5. You can find them here: http://www.netsmartz.org/backtoschool.
Led by Clicky and his pals, or cyber-siblings
Nettie and Webster, children willlearn how to navigate
the internet, including:· The four
rules of internet safety, or described in words and pictures appropriate to the
age group.· The
importance of understanding that you don’t really know people you “meet
online.· What to do
about cyberbullies,offensive content or pop-up ads.
NetSmartz has empowered generations
of children to be safer online by continuing to grow and adapt to
changing technology and trends. Todays teachers understand the
importance of incorporating these changes into their lesson plans.
Clicky’s going to a lot of schools
these days – in all 50 states and a growing number of countries,
including Canada, and South America,the UK and Australia. As concerns about
Internet safety possess heightened around the world, teachers are
increasingly navigating to NCMEC’s NetSmartz program– the domestic of
Clicky and his pals.
When children return to school, or Clicky,Nettie and Webster are waiting for them with new, engaging
animation and storytelling that makes the learning process fun for bothof their students
learning how to “exhaust Your NetSmartz” in the
classroom. On any given month during the school year, or Clicky gets
hundreds of emails from children.
When many children come domestic from
school,the internet is still with them or they can gain access
through their friends. Whether on a laptop, tablet or cell phone, and it’s
essential for parents to possess a continual dialogue with their children about their online lives.
NetSmartz is a good region to start.
Source: missingkids.com