Talk to your child about being a good digital citizen
Digital citizenship is woven into the instruction students receive at Mehlville School District. To reduce disruptions at school, we also need parents' support at home with social media. It’s important that students learn about what it means to be a good digital citizen before they begin using social media. Please talk to your child about the impact what they share online can have on them and others.
Inappropriate social media usage, such as cyberbullying and other crude behaviors, are damaging to students' social and emotional well-being and their relationships with each other. It’s important that our kids understand that nothing is truly anonymous online. It's also important that kids understand that posts are often widely shared and can be documented forever.
Additionally, threats against the safety of students and staff are taken seriously, and students who make threats face serious disciplinary consequences and sometimes face charges and arrests. Talk to your child and help them understand that these consequences can have a lasting effect on their future. Everything they post or share can become public, even if it’s only shared with one person.
Most importantly, remind your children that if they see or hear something concerning, they should report it to a trusted adult. In most cases, students, parents or staff members alert us and law enforcement to potential concerns. Here's how you can report a safety concern.
Monitoring your child’s online and social media behavior is key to preventing social media usage from becoming an issue. Here are some reliable resources with great information for parents: