Helping Kids Connect Safely

E-Newsletter Offers Technology Tips for Parents, Guardians, and Teachers

NEA Health Information Network

By the middle school years, many students are online or using wireless phones — and adults are wondering how to make sure those technologies help, rather than hinder, kids' safety and learning. Now there is a new electronic newsletter to provide tools and tips for adults to help kids connect safely.

The bimonthly e-newsletter — called bNetS@vvy: Tools for Adults to Help Kids Connect Safely — is distributed by the National Education Association Health Information Network (HIN) in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Sprint.

Each issue features personal stories, strategies, and tools to help teachers, parents, and guardians engage with youth to keep them safer. One of the pull-down menus of the electronic newsletter is a listing of Internet sites that provide information on student health, technical resources, and youth safety.

Beginning with Issue Four, which focused on the cyberbullying, HIN has provided a version of the e-newsletter in Spanish as well. (Chasque  aquí para ver la edicion numero Cuatro de bNetS@vvy en Español.)

For more information and to subscribe, visit the bNetsavvy Web site.

Adults concerned about online safety for children ages 9-14 are invited to share stories and ideas by contacting Caitlin Johnson, editor-in-chief, at internetsafety@nea.org.