US

Being safe and kind online

What is cyberbullying? How can you report a worry? A free elementary game about safe, respectful and responsible behavior online.

For parents and teachers

How this game supports learning, with worked examples, common mistakes and ideas for home and school.

At a glance

Learning focus
Digital literacy
Suggested level
Grade 4 · Supplemental or enrichment practice
Game
Quiz race

Open the free printable game and worksheet

Being safe and kind online: what children learn

This game gives real-life situations, from unkind messages and rumors to strangers in games and too-good-to-be-true claims, and asks for the best response. It also teaches the ways to get help: trusted adults, report and block buttons, 911 in an emergency and, for adults, the NCMEC CyberTipline. The answers follow the SMART rules from Childnet, a UK online-safety charity.

Suggested grade 4 practice, selected by skill and reading demand. US states and schools teach these topics in different grades; this is not a state-standards alignment claim.

CSTA 2026 PK–12 Standards teaching connection: Responsible participation. This game introduces a related computing concept. Extend it with creating, testing or discussing a real example. The suggested grade is editorial; no specific CSTA performance code, certification or full coverage is claimed. Read the framework.

How to play

Answer 10 questions before the clock runs out. Tap an answer, or press 1 to 4. Each game has 10 multiple-choice questions and a 150-second timer. A wrong answer shows the correct one before moving on. You earn up to three stars depending on your score.

Step by step

  1. Agree what is acceptable. Make a list together: asking before posting photos, being kind, keeping passwords private. Then list what is not acceptable.
  2. Know the report routes. Trusted adult, report and block buttons, 911 in an emergency, and the NCMEC CyberTipline (report.cybertip.org) for adults reporting someone who is trying to harm a child.
  3. Keep evidence. If messages are unkind, save or screenshot them before blocking, and show a trusted adult.
  4. Check what is true. Not everything online is reliable. Check surprising claims on trusted websites.
  5. Think before posting. Ask: would I be happy for my teacher, my family and a stranger to see this?

Worked examples

Example 1: A classmate keeps sending you unkind messages. Which is the best thing to do?

Working: Replying makes it worse; deleting removes the evidence. Keep a copy, block, and get help.

Answer: Save the messages, block them and tell a trusted adult.

Example 2: You see a website that says chocolate cures colds. What should you do?

Working: Anyone can publish online. Look for the same claim on reliable health sites, such as the CDC or a children’s hospital.

Answer: Check it on other reliable websites.

Example 3: Which of these is a strong password?

Working: Names and simple patterns are easy to guess. Long, mixed passwords are much harder.

Answer: A long mix of words, numbers and symbols.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

  • Thinking cyberbullying is “just a joke”. If it upsets someone, it is not acceptable. Ask how the other person might feel.
  • Thinking you must deal with problems alone. There are many ways to get help. Telling is the brave and sensible choice.
  • Thinking private messages stay private. Messages can be screenshotted and shared. Think before you send.

Activities to try at home

  • Agree a family online agreement and review it each year.
  • Show your child where the report and block buttons are on the apps they use.
  • Talk about news stories about online scams or fake news.
  • Print the game sheet and discuss the trickier questions.

Ideas for the classroom

  • Sort scenario cards into acceptable and unacceptable behavior, then discuss the borderline ones.
  • Create posters showing the report routes in school and online.
  • Use Childnet’s resources for Safer Internet Day.
  • Play the quiz as a discussion starter, pausing on each answer.

Free printable game and worksheet

The free printable starts with a game sheet, such as a color-by-answer picture, an answer maze or a secret-code joke, followed by a worksheet. Both use the same checked questions as the online game, and the answers are on the last page. Print it, or save it as a PDF from your browser’s print menu.

Open the free printable game and worksheet

Frequently asked questions

What is the NCMEC CyberTipline?

It is the US national reporting line for the online exploitation of children, run by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Report at report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678; NCMEC passes reports to law enforcement. If a child is in danger right now, call 911.

Are children under 13 allowed on social media?

Most social media apps set a minimum age of 13 in their terms. Check each app’s rules.

What should I do if my child tells me about a problem?

Stay calm, thank them for telling you, keep any evidence, and use the report tools. Contact the school if it involves other students.

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Back to Grade 4 computing