You can use the Raising Digital Citizens kit whenever your child is ready to talk about life online.
This kit is perfect for teaching online safety for the period leading up to your child getting their first phone or more digital freedom. This is a big milestone, so they will be more open to learning.
The process of going through the questions helps kids prepare for responsible digital citizenship, similar to getting a digital driver’s license. They earn the right to ownership and freedoms by training for it.
The questions are also very popular among older children who are already active online and are eager to share this part of their lives with their parents.
There is no "correct way" of going through the questions
Grab a few questions on the go or set the scene for a cozy family time. The best way to do this is whatever works best for your family.
Prepare something nice to eat or drink, find a comfortable spot, and create a warm atmosphere. It could be over the dinner table, on the sofa, or at breakfast to ensure a meaningful and educational conversation.
These cards are also perfect to fit into a busy week. Keep them in the car or at the kitchen counter for the kids to reach for. This will keep the conversation going and keep you on track with what’s going on in their lives, all while you learn safer online habits together.
Take a card and read the question
Select one or a few cards at a time from any category and read them aloud. Take turns if you like, and it makes sense. Some questions work just as well for adults.
If some cards contain information that is challenging for you to discuss, or don’t fit your child's age or situation, just skip them to review at another time.
Include others
Siblings, friends, and other family members are welcome to join in. Often, older siblings are great at explaining things to younger ones and sharing their experiences, fostering more learning and encouraging fun conversations.
These are great conversation starters and suit many ages and levels of online experience.
Do as many questions as feels best for your family
If just a few questions spark a lengthy discussion and that covers all you need at that moment, that’s great! Go with it. The goal is to get to know our children, not to rush to finish the questions. It’s about quality, not quantity.
You will find that just one or two questions can instantly bring you closer to your child, and they will light up from your interest in their digital life and experiences.
Hygge and fun, not homework
If the conversation starts to feel overwhelming or unpleasant, take a break. Above all, the experience should be cozy, so gauge when it’s time to pause.
Here's an article on how to create this cosy atmosphere. Read article
Create the Raising Digital Citizens Agreement
When you feel ready, create a personalized agreement together using our template and print it out.
This will remind you of the central parts of your conversation, and the values and new habits you want to stick to, moving on with your digital lives.
Here's a guide on how to create the Agreement Form. Read guide
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For best results, review the questions on the topics that fit your unique situation in advance. Pick the ones you want to talk about, including topics that might be difficult to discuss but are important to talk about. Our attitude influences how open our children feel they can be with us, so being prepared is helpful.
