When you look in the mirror, you see yourself. But what makes you special? It could be your personality, your favorite food, your pet, or your favorite movie. Sharing these fun things about yourself on your phone or computer can be exciting and help you connect with others. Telling stories about fun times helps keep those memories alive, and sharing what you know can teach others new things.
Before you share anything online, it’s important to stop and think. Some information, like your full name, where you live, or your birthday, is private. This means it can be used to identify you, so you should not share it online unless you have permission from a trusted adult.
Sharing personal information, like your favorite color or hobby, is usually okay. But sharing private information, like your address or phone number, is not safe. Always think carefully before sharing anything online, whether it’s with friends, your community, or the whole world.
Next time you want to share something online, ask yourself: Is this personal or private? Remember, personal info can be fun to share, but private info should stay safe and secret. Always talk to an adult you trust if you’re unsure about sharing something.
Personal vs. Private Sorting Game: Create two boxes or baskets labeled “Personal” and “Private.” Write down different pieces of information on small cards, such as “favorite color,” “home address,” “birthday,” “favorite animal,” and “phone number.” Ask the children to sort these cards into the correct boxes. After sorting, discuss why each piece of information belongs in its respective category.
Story Time Reflection: Ask the children to think of a story they would like to share with a friend. Have them write or draw their story, including details they think are fun and safe to share. Then, review their stories together and identify any private information that should be kept secret. Encourage them to replace any private details with personal ones.
Observation Walk: Take the children on a short walk around the school or playground. Ask them to observe and note down things they see that are okay to share with others, like the color of a flower or the sound of a bird. Then, discuss why these observations are safe to share and how they differ from private information.
**NARRATOR:**
Take a look in the mirror. What do you see? Yourself, of course. But who are you? What makes you, you? There are lots of things: your personality, your favorite food, your pet, or your favorite movie. Sharing this personal information on your phone or computer can be a lot of fun and can help you connect with other people. Sharing something enjoyable that happened keeps a great memory alive. And sharing what you know teaches others new ideas.
Before you share, however, it’s important to pause and think. Some information about you, like your full name, your address, or your date of birth, can be used to identify you individually. This information is private and should not be shared online unless you get permission first from an adult you trust.
So, when it comes to sharing about you, personal info can be okay. But private info? No way. Think before you share—with friends, with your community, and with the world. So, what information do you share online?
