We’re all about an innovative education. We know tablets and phones are necessary tools for interactive and engaging learning. While we love that this has enhanced classroom experiences, it has also opened up a window for misuse. Cyberbullying and sexting are not the only serious threats that technology and social media pose. Most kids are not aware of the impact of their digital footprint and may post personal or inappropriate content, jeopardizing their reputation and their safety. To combat this, we use an alternative teaching method that engages kids to become a part of the message.

Project B3 appoints special student leaders to help inspire kids to use the web safely and positively. We see how captivated younger kids are by their older classmates, and take that opportunity to model the older students into the forefront examples of internet safety. Our leaders teach kids to be safe, be smart and be kind before they interact online. This method fosters peer-to-peer engagement that creates the most effective learning environment. We are very passionate about this environment because we love to watch it come full circle and transform the whole school community.

Today, we as parents are faced with guiding our kids through a realm they already know more about themselves: the internet. But teaching children how to use the internet is not the same as teaching them how to ride a bike. Unlike the foreseeable dangers of the bike, the threats of the internet are not grasped by a child’s eyes. A child may feel nervous before hopping onto a bike, but when it comes to a smartphone or tablet, they are fearless.

The reality is, the dangers of the digital world are more severe than a few scrapes and cuts. Cyberbullying, sexting, pornography and abduction need no explanation when it comes to negative effects on our children. With these threats looming around our child, our instinctive defense may be to remove technology all together, or heavily surveille every click. Project B3 proposes a better solution.

We think teaching children how to be digitally responsible should be as simple and practiced as teaching them how to ride a bike. That is why we created our 90-minute The Parent Feed that covers the best methods to help keep your child safe online. Learn about all the latest apps kids are using, and how to protect them from certain features that could threaten them. Take your own “Parental Playbook” home with you to create a plan for your family’s digital life. The Parent Feed will ensure a better understanding of how your child engages online, and provides a non-restrictive approach to safeguarding. By teaching kids to be safe, be smart and be kind before they interact digitally, they can continue to embrace the benefits of technology without putting themselves or others in danger.