The Naperville YMCAs and the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago have teamed up with Google to host online safety and digital citizenship workshops for parents with its Be Internet Awesome program and Family Link app to Chicagoland families.
The six-city collaboration emerged from a pilot program between the Y of Metro Chicago and Google in April 2019 that consisted of 18 Be Internet Awesome workshops held at YMCA Centers across the Chicago land area. The response from the pilot, which aimed to expand its existing classroom outreach to connect directly with families, demonstrated a strong desire from parents to learn more about Internet safety.
Be Internet Awesome workshops provide a forum for parents to learn and discuss how to help their children be safer and smarter online. Families can receive free bilingual resources and tips on how to communicate responsibly, understand real from fake in the face of phishing and scams, build strong passwords, be positive and kind online, talk about questionable content with their family, and explore why building healthy internet use is important. The workshops encourage parents to continue the conversation at home. Google also provides a free web based game called Interland that helps kids learn lessons through interactive mini games.
The Kroehler and Fry Family YMCAs are hosting their next workshop on September 21. Call either center (Kroehler: 630-420-6270 or Fry: 630-904-9595) to reserve your spot. This event is free and open to the public.
To learn more, visit beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us.
Editor’s Note / The program will be held from 10AM to 11AM Sat., September 21, at Fry Family Y located at 2120 95th Street.
