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DFi Home | Digital Futures Initiative | Digital Citizenship for Kids & Teens SROs TEACHERS PARENTS LATEST NEWS Blogs Table Talk ABOUT US LEARNING PORTAL RESOURCES Recommended Books Testimonials Programs Digital Citizenship Relationships Substance Use Distracted Driving Parent Academy Downloads Digital Maturity Framework GET STARTED Select Page Digital citizenship for today's kids Teaching digital citizenship to kids and teens, and helping them use the power of tech, devices & social media in a positive way. Get Lessons / Start Teaching how it works Every day, DFI’s digital citizenship curriculum is taught in hundreds of classrooms across the country. Maybe it’s because we’re a group of parents, educators, and law enforcement officials who have all been brought together by a common goal: t o help kids thrive in today’s high-tech world. k learn Learn the DFI lessons at your own pace  download Download the presentations when finished  teach Teach kids the lessons in your community Get Started! childhood is changing % Teens say anxiety is a major problem % 16 & 17 year olds admit to texting while driving % Young people see bullying in school Sources: 1. Pew Research Center , “Most U.S. Teens See Anxiety and Depression as a Major Problem Among Their Peers.” 2. AAA , “SURVEY: TEENS ADMIT RISKY BEHAVIORS INCLUDING ‘TEXTING’ WHILE DRIVING.” 3. Johns Hopkins University , “Bullying and peer victimization at school: Perceptual differences between students and school staff.” What we cover See why thousands of parents, educators, and members of law enforcement in all 50 states turn to DFI to help kids make better life decisions. Our curriculum is updated regularly with the latest findings to help kids make smart decisions about the role technology plays in their lives. ALL LESSONS ARE 100% FREE digital citizenship The importance of being emotionally intelligent, having self-value over online perfection comparisons, and understanding the issues digital media creates. substance use Describes the impact drugs have on a child’s life & how drug industries target children. Teaches students to manage their feelings without relying on drugs. relationships Get teens to cultivate healthy relationships while focusing on kindness. Bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and dating abuse are also covered. distracted driving Teach students the dangers of distracted driving & how to focus when behind the wheel. Encourages teens not to use devices while driving. parent academy Built to help busy parents understand the role technology plays in their kids’ lives— and what smart families can do about it. WHAT’S NEW 4 Things to Prepare for an Online School Year: With schools returning online in the fall, plan your strategies for screen time, creating routines, designing school spaces, and working in regular weekly mental breaks. Read More Quickstart guide to quality remote classroom experiences Not all remote learning solutions are created the same. Here is our list of which apps are safe for kids—and which ones you should avoid. Read More My family is in self-quarantine. Now what? Yes, coronavirus is a crisis. But even a crisis shouldn’t be wasted. Here are some ways to help your kids continue to grow & develop during this strange time we’re in. Read More Get the Child Online Safety Index! Get your free copy of the first-ever Child Online Safety Index. See how each country compares when it comes to keeping their kids safe online. Read More THE IMPACT IS REAL A parent told me she was going to stop using the phone when her kids were home. She said her kids were losing time with her because of her addiction. She said her kids fight less and there is more peace in the home since she put her phone and computer away at home. Students have shared experiences they learned in class. One particular student actually had an online predator attempt to lure her. Because of the lessons, she realized what was happening and got help. I contniue to have positive input / feedback from students, parents and staff about the impact of DFi at our school Following a DFi class, a student reported a sex offender attempt to contact them on line resulting in an arrest I had an 8th grade student who reported to her parents that she was being abused by her high school boyfriend. She told her parents that she sat in my class and became aware that she was being victimized and what was occurring- She was able to get help in time… Knowledge is power!!! The most benefit I’ve seen has been for parents in our school district. I’m also working with our superintendent on implementing this programming district wide for the 20/21 school year. So important with the emotional intelligence ties throughout the curriculum I use the resources for parents almost daily. It has been extremely helpful / useful. I feel that the substance abuse lesson is a good way for us to provide factual information to students regardless of where they are on the use scale. For students who don’t use, it’s a way to solidify their decision to abstain from it. For those students who do use, it’s a way for them to have honest facts so that they can be safe and smart going forward. This is extremely relevant information for what today’s youth and parents are facing The lessons have played a huge role in keeping our school as drug free as possible. I had 4 students report drug cases in 1 week which seems to be attributed to their knowledge and awareness gained from the substance curriculum We teach some substance abuse curriculum, but primarily focus on socio-emotional curriculums. This program really helps us focus upstream, working with students well before identified problems occur. What I like most is the consistency of the information across the courses, and the notes and outlines to teach the classes as they are supposed to be taught. Following the lessons, Kids were more aware of the possibility of their future been affected as a result of digital residue they were creating now. Their attitudes and awareness have changed. I appreicate the standardized curriculum with current videos. It is all at your fingertips (statistics/videos/etc.), well done all around We have recorded lower vaping, sexting and bullying issues as a result of this program in our school. Several students compliment me every time I teach this program. When is the last time that happened to you? I have had several students say that they are happier online and feel more in control after realizing how the apps work and how they are designed be addictive and keep them engaged. support dfi Help support the country’s fastest growing digital citizenship curriculum and online training to protect America’s children online today. Fundraising helps keep our content up-to-date and provides training for instructors. Make a Donation Who uses DFI? Here are just a few of the hundreds of organizations who use DFI to help kids take charge of their digital lives. get dfi right in your inbox DFI instructors make a difference in the lives of kids. Whether you're a teacher, administrator, SRO, or simply want to make a difference, we're here to help you get started. Thanks for signing-up for our newsletter! 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