Pause and check: a family message activity
For a child and trusted adult. Allow about ten minutes, or work through one card at a time. Read aloud or let the child read. Paper and a pencil are enough. These fictional examples are not book excerpts or a tested curriculum.
Do not open real suspicious links, send surprise test messages, or use real passwords. Text in brackets is a printed instruction, not a link. Keep this sheet at home; do not submit it online.
Our three questions
- What does the message want me to do?
- What makes me pause?
- Who can help me check another way?
Card 1: A free game upgrade
“You've been selected for a free game upgrade. Sign in at [pretend link] within five minutes or you'll lose it!”
Circle what sounds exciting. Underline what makes you hurry.
My next step: ________________________________
Card 2: A friend's request
“It's me! I need your help getting my account back. Send me the sign-in code that just appeared on your phone.”
Does seeing a friend's name tell us who is actually sending the message?
My next step: ________________________________
Card 3: A school notice
“Please review the class trip information at [pretend link] before Friday.”
Do these words give us enough information to decide whether the message is real?
My next step: ________________________________
Our family plan
If something online feels confusing, I can ask: ________________________________
If I've already clicked, we will first: ________________________________
An adult can say: “Thank you for showing me. Let's look at what happened.”
Adult answer guide
Card 1: Notice the reward, urgency and request to sign in. Do not use the message's link. Check any offer together through the game's usual app or known website.
Card 2: Do not send the sign-in code. Contact the friend or their parent using an established contact route. Familiar accounts can be taken over; the owner should use the platform's recovery process.
Card 3: There is not enough information to label it safe or fraudulent. Open the established school portal or contact the school through its usual details. “Let's check” is a useful answer.
Already clicked? Stop interacting and have an adult check whether information was entered or anything downloaded. Do not reopen the link. Use official account recovery when needed; involve school support for school-managed devices. The full article explains next steps and sources.
IT MGMT • Prepared September 20, 2026 • No purchase or form required.
Adult reading: FTC guidance for parents, avoiding phishing, recovering an account.