By Lookout Staff

September 13, 2019 -- As part of National Cybersecurity Month, the Santa Monica Public Library will present a series of free classes next month to help keep children safe online.

The stand-alone classes offer tools and tips for parents and caregivers to help their children have safer and better online lives at any age, library officials said.

"Children today grow up using devices and interacting with online environments, and the people who raise them are the first and most consistent mediators of those interactions," officials said.

"Each stand-alone class aims to provide tools and tips for parents and caregivers to use to help their children have safer and better online lives at any age."

Topics covered in the classes include:

• Safety and privacy issues to watch out for, especially as your children grow older,
  
  
• Materials to help start a dialog with your children on issues of privacy, posting and online bullying,
  
  
• Tools for vetting apps, and
  
  
• Resources for advice on current best practices for raising good digital citizens.

The program is being presented at three different branch locations, with on-theme activities provided in the same space for any attending children.

Following are the dates, locations and children's activities being offered:

• Tuesday, October 1 at 3:30 p.m. at the Ocean Park Branch Library, 2601 Main Street. Children’s activity: learn how to trick facial recognition.
  
  
• Saturday, October 12 at 2:00 p.m. at the Montana Branch Library, 1704 Montana Avenue. Children’s activity: create a secret identity card.
  
  
• Monday, October 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fairview Branch Library, 2101 Ocean Park Boulevard. Children’s activity: mask making.

The series is a collaboration between the Youth Services and Reference Services departments, with materials sponsored by the Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library.

The programs are free and open to all ages, but specifically target parents and caregivers, and K-5 children.

Seating is first come, first served, and some class-specific materials are available in limited quantities.