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Teaching kids how to behave safely and respectfully online has become just as important as teaching them how to cross the street or share toys. From texting friends to posting on social media to joining group chats in online games, kids are forming digital habits earlier than ever.
Digital citizenship gives them the tools to navigate those spaces with confidence, kindness, and awareness. The goal isn’t to scare them or monitor every click—it’s to help them understand how their choices online affect themselves and others.
Below are simple, age-flexible tips that can help kids build healthy digital habits at home, at school, and wherever they use technology.
1. Start Digital Citizenship Conversations Early
Kids form digital habits long before they get their own phone. Starting conversations early helps set expectations and makes you a trusted guide as they grow. Keep the tone simple and matter-of-fact: talk about kindness online, how to handle uncomfortable situations, and what to do if something doesn’t feel right. When these talks begin early, kids are far more likely to come to you with questions later on.
2. Learn the Technology Your Child Is Using
You don’t need to be a tech expert, but having a basic understanding of the apps, games, and devices your child uses goes a long way. Explore the settings, look at how communication works, and learn whether kids can message others or join multiplayer spaces. The more familiar you are with the features your child has access to, the easier it is to guide them, set boundaries, and talk openly about staying safe online.
3. Teach Online Etiquette (“Netiquette”) Explicitly
Kids don’t automatically know how to communicate respectfully online — they learn it the same way they learn to say please and thank you: by practicing. Talk openly about online manners, like not texting during meals, avoiding ALL CAPS, pausing before posting when upset, and being thoughtful in comment sections.
As kids get older, expand the conversation to include memes, viral trends, and how quickly something can be shared beyond its original audience. Remind them to ask for permission before taking or posting photos of others, and to consider how they would feel if the roles were reversed. Online etiquette mirrors real-world values, and practicing empathy helps kids show up kindly in both spaces.
Online etiquette mirrors real-world values, which you can instill through our favorite parenting approaches that actually work.
4. Explain the Permanence of Online Posts and Messages
One of the most important lessons for young digital citizens is this: your posts are permanent. Even with privacy settings, screenshots and sharing tools mean nothing online is ever fully private.
Explain what a “digital footprint” is and how it can follow them into high school, college, and future jobs. Keep the tone calm and realistic — it’s not about scaring kids, but helping them understand the long-term impact of their choices and the power of protecting their reputation online.
5. Talk About Digital Footprints and Online Reputation
As young people get older and begin to apply for universities and jobs, encourage them to make their profile public and take accountability for making it positive. It’s a great place for potential employers and university officials to get to know you better and see how you show up in the world.
6. Encourage Kids to Build a Positive Online Reputation
As teens start using social platforms more independently, help them think about what they want their online presence to say about them. Encourage them to highlight their interests, accomplishments, hobbies, and the positive ways they contribute to their community. A thoughtful, authentic online profile can become an asset as they approach college or job applications.
7. Supervise Online Activity in Age-Appropriate Ways
Supervision doesn’t mean hovering — it means staying connected. Keep shared devices in common areas, and stay curious about who your child is talking to, what platforms they’re using, and what they’re downloading.
Set clear limits about where, when, and how long devices can be used. Talk together about what makes a photo appropriate or not, and revisit these expectations regularly as kids mature and their online world grows.
8. Model the Digital Behavior You Want Them to Follow
Kids watch what we do far more than they listen to what we say. If we want them to unplug during family time, communicate kindly, and think before posting, the best thing we can do is model those habits ourselves. Show them what balance looks like — how to set aside devices, respond respectfully online, and use technology in healthy, meaningful ways.
Inspired by research and resources from the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI).
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- Want to boost your child’s learning at home? Explore our roundup of the Top Free Educational Websites for Kids to make online learning engaging and fun.
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
