It’s undeniable that most children nowadays spend more time on their gadgets not only for learning but also for gamings and entertainment. If you don’t deprive them to experience the fun it gives, it’s our duty as parents to teach them how to use them responsibly. More than giving them time rules and viewing restrictions, it is also important to educate them about how they can protect their privacy online and how to distinguish real information from fake ones.

Have you told them that when they sign up on social media and gaming apps they give not just their personal information but access to it? Does your children know how to spot those many forms of false information such as misleading, out-of-context, or intentionally deceptive news, conspiracy theories and propagandas, and biased writing or reporting?

To help you educate your kids about necessary guidelines on using the internet, Looking for Juan, a Filipino online store for books and art-infused gifts, just released two children books entitled Safe Space: A Kid’s Guide to Data Privacy and #YouThink: Fight Fake News, published by the Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS).

Safe Space, a 60-page activity book, introduces the concept of personal data to children ages 6 to 12 through engaging them in fun color-and-play activities. Added attention grabber is the whimsical arts and Illustrations. Also, the lessons on the book are presented in a child-friendly language to better understand how social media and online gaming works when they sign or use them, and how and why they should strengthen their privacy setting to protect themselves online. Also, it has notes to parents and teachers on how to apply the book.

On the other hand, #YouThink, geared for older kids ages 12-18, raises awareness about false information and educates children how to be vigilant online. The 42-pager also discusses topics such as phishing, fake pictures, deepfakes, facts and opinion, and the importance of analyzing context. There are also letters from experts where youngsters can get advice and tips on responsible surfing and sharing of information. It is presented zine style with a light-hearted and entertaining layout to be more appealing for teens.

Both books are written by Gigo Alampay, CANVAS’ executive director and designed by Studio Dialogo. It features illustrations provided by Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK). “We hope that these books can become an opportunity for children and their guardians to talk meaningfully to each other about things they see online, or things in general,” asserts Alampay.   

These books are also worthy gifts for the Holidays because apart from educating your children you get to donate books to two Filipino kids in underprivileged communities through the online store’s Buy-1-Donate-2 lifetime deal. Book donations are being distributed through CANVAS’ One Million Books for One Million Filipino Campaign. To date, more than 350,000 have been given away to less fortunate children from Batanes to Zamboanga, empowering them to have a better future.