Connecting safely online is a serious concern for parents when it comes to their child’s online activity.

On Tuesday evening, Oakdale Elementary in Cottonwood Heights hosted a digital safety event. 

It’s in an effort to teach children how to be good digital citizens.

“I worry about them making decisions of their own or hearing from their peers,” said Kaati Tarr an Oakdale Elementary PTA parent.

Tarr helped to spearhead the event to help keep parents informed.

It’s as she travels this learning curve with her own children who are 10 and 6.

“We have three breakouts scheduled,” said Tarr. “One of them is building empathy. There’s another on healthy habits with electronics and then the third one is family and technology.”

The event is through a partnership with the National PTA and Facebook.

“Students are taught how to be good citizens in their everyday life when they’re face to face, but it’s a whole different ballgame when they’re online,” said Allison Fortie, a third-grade teacher at Oakdale.

This event already builds on what Fortie and other teachers are teaching Oakdale students.

“We also use the Nets Smarts Program,” said Fortie. “They come and deliver an assembly to all of the children at our school that show them the dangers as well as keep open communication with adults to prevent those dangers from online usage.”