Cooper Elementary
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What's Happening This Month
October 27th No School
October 30th No School for Students
October 31st No School for Students
Raise Media Smart Kids
Raise Media Smart Kids
Webkinz. Facebook. Cell Phones. Video Gaming – it’s hard to keep up with everything your kids are playing, posting and texting. But you can help them be safe and responsible.
5 things parents can do:
1. Set limits. On time and place, and choose age-appropriate TV, movies, music and games.
2. Make rules. Cell phones belong outside the classroom and away from the dinner table. If your kids wouldn’t say something to someone’s face, they shouldn’t text it either. And IM? Not during homework.
3. Discuss safety. Tell them what kind of photos, videos and information are okay to post online.
4. Be a media critic. Teach your kids not to believe everything they see or hear. Online, in the movies or on TV. Talk to them about media messages, what you agree with and what you don’t. 5. Join the fun. Watch, listen and play with your kids. Ask their opinions and embrace their world!
Common Sense Media (commonsensemedia.com) suggests….
» Limit online socializing. Because there is more risk for bullying on sites where kids can openly communicate, avoid open and free chat sites and look for those that offer prescripted or prescreened chat options, like Webkinz or Club Penguin.
» Explain the basics of good behavior online. Remind your kids that being mean, lying, or telling secrets hurts — both online and offline. And remember to praise your child when you see good behavior.
» Remind your kids not to share passwords with their friends. A common form of cyberbullying is when kids share passwords, log on to another child’s account, and pretend to be that person. Kids can protect themselves by learning that passwords are strictly private, and they should be shared only with their parents.
» Make sure they talk to someone (even if it’s not you). A child should tell a parent, teacher, or trusted adult if he or she is being bullied online. Tell your child that this isn’t tattling, it’s standing up for him or herself.
» Advise them on how to handle cyberbullying. Even though they might be tempted to, your child should never retaliate against a cyberbully. They can stop the cycle by not responding to the bully. Also remind them to save the evidence rather than delete it.
» Establish consequences for bullying behavior. If your child is mean to or humiliates another child, consider taking phone and computer privileges away and discuss what it means to be respectful to others.
» Make a list together of how talking online is different than talking face to face. Get kids to think about how it might be easier to say things online you wouldn’t say in person, and how this may be good sometimes and a problem at other times.
» Point out that it’s important to stick up for others, online as well as in the real world. Discuss ways they can support friends who are bullied and report bad behavior they see online.