Many students returning to the classroom this week are likely to have spent hours online over the summer — playing games, watching videos and possibly much more.  While parents and caregivers may try to oversee children’s navigation of the digital world, it’s essential that students are taught how to be safe, responsible digital citizens.

Cultivating digital citizenship can be tricky, but PBS LearningMedia has engaging resources to address this need:

A collection of Ruff Ruffman videos helps address topics that include texting, sharing photographs online, conducting searches, and finding the appropriate balance of technology and media use in everyday life.

REACH: Digital Citizenship for grades PreK-1 helps students and parents understand what it means to be a good digital citizen and steps they can take to be safe online

Project Aware for grades 13+ is a collection designed for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers to help them understand the complex world of social media and online safety.

The video How Do Different Social Media Platforms Affect Your Mood? for grades 6-12 helps students understand the serious effect that social media can have on our mood by exploring the science behind the ways different social media platforms may affect our brains.