Miners Rest Primary School

Inclusion & Engagement 

Teaching cybersecurity to primary school-aged children is essential for helping them understand the online world safely. Here are some key concepts and tips tailored for young learners:

Key Concepts

  1. Personal Information:
    • Explain what personal information is (like their name, address, and school) and why it’s important to keep it private.
  2. Strong Passwords:
    • Teach them to create strong passwords (using a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols) and the importance of not sharing them.
  3. Recognizing Safe Websites:
    • Show them how to identify safe websites (look for “https://” and familiar logos) and the importance of sticking to trusted sites.
  4. Being Aware of Strangers:
    • Discuss the importance of not talking to strangers online, just like in real life. They should only communicate with people they know.
  5. Think Before You Click:
    • Encourage them to think twice before clicking on links or downloading files, especially from unknown sources.
  6. Cyberbullying:
    • Talk about what cyberbullying is and encourage them to speak up if they or someone else is being bullied online.
  7. Reporting Issues:
    • Teach them how to report inappropriate content or behaviour on the platforms they use.
  8. Privacy Settings:
    • Introduce the concept of privacy settings on social media and games, emphasizing that they should only share information with trusted friends.

Fun Activities

  1. Role-Playing:
    • Create scenarios where they have to decide what information is safe to share and what isn’t.
  2. Password Games:
    • Have a password creation contest where they come up with the strongest password for a fictional character.
  3. Online Safety Puzzles:
    • Use puzzles or quizzes to reinforce what they’ve learned about online safety.
  4. Story Time:
    • Share stories that highlight the importance of staying safe online, making it relatable and engaging.

Resources

Go to the eSafety Commissioner website for more helpful tips for parents.

For a bit of fun here is a link to a game about Cyber security:

https://spaceshelter.withgoogle.com/

Conclusion

By introducing these concepts and activities, children can learn to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. Encourage ongoing conversations about their online experiences to reinforce these lessons!