“You Are Never Alone” Why Early Online Safety Education Matters for Kids
- Nov 20
- 3 min read
A conversation with National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) trained CAPS educator, Kim Yoder
Kids today are growing up in a digital world that moves fast, sometimes faster than we realize. And while technology opens doors for learnin
g and creativity, it also introduces risks earlier than most families expect.
We sat down with CAPS’ NCMEC-trained educator, Kim Yoder, to talk about why early online safety conversations matter, what kids are experiencing, and how parents can build trust without fear.
“My goal isn’t to scare kids — it’s to empower them.”
Q: Do young children really need online safety lessons already?
A: Absolutely. Research shows kids as young as seven are hearing new words, getting curious, and searching for answers online, often because they’re afraid to ask a parent. And kids as young as nine are already being targeted by online exploitation. None of this means they’re doing anything wrong. It simply proves how early we need to start giving children safe, accurate information.
Q: What do you hope kids feel when you teach these lessons?
A: Confident. Empowered. Prepared. Technology is a wonderful tool, and I don’t want children to feel afraid of it. I want them to understand what’s safe to share, what to do if something feels wrong, and who their safe adults are — at home, in school, and in the community.
Q: How does the NCMEC curriculum make complex topics understandable?
A: NCMEC’s Into the Cloud cartoon series does it beautifully. The characters — Clicky, Webster, and Nettie face situations kids may experience online. We watch short clips, then talk about what happened and why. It turns big concepts like privacy, boundaries, and inappropriate content into simple, kid-friendly decisions.
Q: Is there a moment that made you think, “This work really matters”?
A: Several. A 4th grader once waited until the end of class to tell me he had received an inappropriate picture and didn’t know what to do. That conversation alone showed me why we must teach these skills early.
Another powerful moment happens almost every time I ask adults or kids if they’ve heard of CyberTipline.org, almost no one has — even though it’s a lifesaving reporting tool for children facing pressure, extortion, or grooming online. Kids deserve to know where to turn.
Q: Some adults worry these topics might be “too much” for little ones. What would you say?
A: If we don’t teach them, the internet will —Early education doesn’t overwhelm kids, it equips them. And it sends a powerful message: You can talk to the safe adults in your life about anything, without fear or punishment.
Q: How can families build on these lessons at home?
A: Use small, everyday moments:
Ask who their friends are — offline and online.
Play their favorite online games with them.
Show interest instead of judgment.
Keep devices off the punishment list. If kids worry their device will be taken away, they won’t come to us when something is wrong.
Connection always works better than fear.
Q: If every child could remember one message, what would it be?
A: You are never alone. If something happens online: bullying, pressure, inappropriate images, grooming, you can always talk to your safe adults. And anyone can make a report 24/7 at CyberTipline.org, the reporting tool operated by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Technology isn’t going away, and neither are the challenges that come with it. But when kids learn early, when adults stay open, and when communities work together, we can make the online world a safer place for children.