Ages 7–9

Smart & Safe Online

A gentle introduction to digital citizenship for young learners. Your child will learn the basics of staying safe, kind, and smart on the internet — all in language they understand.

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About this course

The internet is an amazing place for kids to learn, create, and explore. This course teaches young children how to navigate the digital world safely while building healthy habits that will serve them for life. Each lesson includes hands-on activities, vocabulary building, and real-world scenarios they can practice at home.

Lessons

  • Video placeholder: What is the internet?

    The Internet Is Like a Big Library

    Imagine a library so big it has every book, every game, every video, and every song ever made. That’s the internet! You can visit it from a computer, a tablet, or a phone. Just like a real library, there are rules that keep everyone safe and happy.

    Key Idea: The internet connects computers all around the world so people can share information, play games, and talk to each other.

    How We Connect

    We get online using devices like tablets, phones, laptops, and desktop computers. These devices connect to the internet through Wi-Fi (like invisible radio waves in your house) or through cell phone signals when you’re out and about.

    Activity: Internet Scavenger Hunt

    With a parent or guardian, find five things in your house that can connect to the internet. Write them down or draw them. Hint: think beyond just computers! Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and even some refrigerators can connect to the internet.

    Websites, Apps, and Games

    Websites are like pages in a book. Apps are programs you download to do specific things — like play a game, watch videos, or send messages. Games can be on websites or in apps. All of them live on the internet.

    New Words:
    • Website — a place on the internet with pages of information, like a digital book
    • App — short for “application,” a program on your device that does a specific job
    • Browser — the tool you use to visit websites (like Chrome, Safari, or Edge)
    • Wi-Fi — invisible signals that connect your device to the internet

  • What Is Personal Information?

    Personal information is anything that tells someone who you are or where to find you. Your full name, your address, your school name, your birthday, your phone number, and photos of you are all personal information. Think of it like the key to your house — you only give it to people you trust.

    Key Idea: Personal information is like a secret key to your house. You only share it with people you trust — like your family and your teacher. You never share it with strangers, even if they seem nice online.

    The “Grown-Up Check” Rule

    Before you type anything about yourself online — your name, a photo, where you live — stop and ask a grown-up. This is called the Grown-Up Check. It takes five seconds and keeps you safe. Even if a website or game asks for this information, always check with your parent or guardian first.

    Activity: Practice the Grown-Up Check

    Role-play with a parent or guardian. They pretend to be someone online asking for your name, your age, or where you go to school. You practice saying: “Let me check with my grown-up first.” Then go ask them for real. Practice until it feels natural!

  • The Golden Rule Goes Online

    Treat others the way you want to be treated. This rule works at school, at home, and on the internet. If you wouldn’t say something to someone’s face, don’t type it in a comment, a message, or a game chat. Remember: there’s a real person with real feelings on the other side of every screen.

    Key Idea: Words can hurt, even when you can’t see the person’s face. Before you type something, ask yourself: “Would this make someone feel good or bad?”

    What Is Cyberbullying?

    Cyberbullying is when someone uses the internet or a device to be mean to another person over and over again. It can be mean messages, leaving someone out of a group on purpose, sharing embarrassing photos, or saying cruel things in a game chat. It’s never okay, and it’s not your fault if it happens to you.

  • Why Balance Matters

    Screens are fun! Games, videos, and apps are designed to keep you watching and playing. But your body and brain need other things too: running around outside, reading a paper book, drawing, building with blocks, talking to family face-to-face, and getting a good night’s sleep.

    Key Idea: Screens are one part of a happy day — not the whole day. A balanced day includes movement, creativity, time with people you love, and rest.