Program Details - FAQ

Click on the links below to view the answer to your questions!

Program:

1. What makes Woogi World™ unique from other Internet safety programs?
2. What have other administrators thought of the program?
3. How long does the program last?
4. I hear that this program is free for schools. How do you do that?
5. How can I get my school or district signed up to start the program?
6. What is our commitment when our school signs up for the Woogi World™ Program?
7. Will participants have to download anything?
8. What other organizations are you partnered with?

Assemblies:

1. What is your school assembly like?
2. What comes in your school assembly/startup kit?

Content:

1. What types of activities/content is available in Woogi World™?
2. Can the kindergartners participate? Will the 6th graders get bored?
3. What if not all of our students have a computer at home? What if some students don't have the Internet?

Safety and Parental Controls:

1. Is the personal information of my students safe?
2. How is your virtual world safe from predators and safe for kids to use?
3. I'm concerned with the "chat" feature on Woogi World™, can you explain how it works and how it is safe?
4. I don't want my child on the Internet too much. Is there a timer on your site to limit play?
5. Will this program addict my child to the Internet?

Answers - Program

1) What makes Woogi World™ unique from other Internet safety programs?

We are a year-long presence, whether in homes or your school computer lab. Like all other anti-Internet-pornography entities, we teach dos and don'ts, but we provide online activities, in-community resources and opportunities and incentives to get children out of the virtual world and back into the real world to serve, use talents and explore their community (all for points and prizes)—a redirection that will not just protect them, but open up the world to them. We also teach and foster responsible citizenship and empower children to make a difference (AWAY from the computer). To see a 2 minute video explanation click here.

2) What have other administrators thought of the program?

"Families need to understand that police officers are not the front line. The family is, and Children's Way will be a big help to us. Children's Way is a wonderful tool for parents. I can't praise it enough."
    -Del Craig, Taylorsville Police Chief

"Bringing the Children's Way Program into our elementary school systems is a critical step to helping our parents protect their children while online."
    -Carmen Snow, President of the Utah State PTA Board

"Children's Way provides great tools that will help our students avoid damaging material on the Internet, as well as strategies to handle when they do."
    -Dr. John Patten, Principal of Suncrest Elementary

"I don't know of any other children's organization whose web-site promotes so many exciting and valuable activities for the proper training of our children!"
    -Kim Hodges, President National Exchange Club

3) How long does the program last?

The program runs for one complete calendar year from the start date. Children can participate in Woogi World™ even when school is not in session. This is a great way to keep children learning during those long summer months!

4) I hear that this program is free for schools. How do you do that?

Children's Way is funded by philanthropists and is a non-profit organization. The Internet Basic Training and basic Woogi World™ access is free to all elementary schools that participate. Users of Woogi World™ will also have the ability to get an optional upgraded membership allowing them access to even more missions, games and activities. Money from the upgraded memberships offsets the high cost of server hosting and covers the programming expenses of Woogi World™.

5) How can I get my school or district to sign up for the program?

Adopting this program is easy for schools and districts. They must:

• First, learn about Woogi World™ and agree to its conditions.
• Second, complete a one-page online registration form. For the form click here.
• Third, receive your school's individual access code from Children's Way.
• Fourth, receive a customized assembly kit (with start up materials) prior to your start date.

6) What is our commitment when my school signs up for the Woogi World™ Program?

It is our desire that every child and every family within your school boundaries is aware of their opportunity to use the Woogi World™ program. All schools that participate commit to:

• Receive and keep the assembly kit for this and future years.
• Hold a start-up assembly for Woogi World™.
• Incorporate Woogi World™ into 2 other activities/events throughout the school year. This will remind the children to keep participating in Woogi World. This incorporation is flexible and adaptable to your school needs.
• Send 1 page printed explanations/updates home with kids 3 times per school year (usually in connection with the events mentioned above).
• Be willing to add your name to the explanations/updates showing your support of the program. To see a sample of these pages click here.
• Participate in Woogi World™ with your own children (if applicable).

7) Will participants have to download anything?

No. There is no additional download for playing Woogi World™ online. It is important, however, to have a newer version of flash to run the program. Most computers already have this installed. If you need a newer version, the flash player is free and safe and can be downloaded at:

Download Flash Player

8) What other organizations are you partnered with?

Children's Way is partnered with Alan Osmond's One Heart Foundation, iKeepSafe, National Exchange Club, Utah PTA, and TheFamily.com, Foundation For a Better Life, and Habitat For Humanity. Many other local and national organizations are learning of our program and joining our efforts!

Answers - Assemblies

1) What is your school assembly like?

Our school assembly is fun, easy to present, and interactive. It lasts 20 to 30 minutes. It requires a DVD projector and at least one presenter. Our assembly teaches Internet Safety and other important values. This can also be delivered by your individual teachers and/or in your computer lab.

2) What comes in your school assembly/startup kit?

The school assembly/startup kit consists of all the things necessary to deliver the assembly and start the program in your school (to be mailed to your school):

• Explanation page and script for presenter
• Assembly DVD
• Copies of "send-home" letters for after-assembly follow-up
• Any other necessary materials for starting the program

Answers - Content

1) What types of activities/content is available in Woogi World™?

All participants will have access to the first three missions called "Internet Basic Training." They teach children our three Internet safety rules: to "Be Balanced" (with their computer time), to "Keep Private" (all of their personal information), and to "Crash and Tell" (if the child comes across anything online that makes them feel uncomfortable, they should "crash" by turning off their computer, and "tell" an adult immediately.) Woogi World™ also provides valuable content from other educational programs such as Ikeepsafe (including their award winning "Faux Paux" Videos). Families that choose to buy the upgraded version will have access to many more activities that continue to teach important principles.

2) Can the kindergartners participate? Will the 6th graders get bored?

All elementary students, up to age 12, will thoroughly enjoy themselves. Our program is designed to be age-appropriate and therefore maintains the interests of all students.

3) What if not all of our students have a computer at home? What if some students don't have the Internet?

Your school can implement the program in the school computer lab to ensure all students receive this Internet basic training. You can offer it during the student's regular computer lab time or as an after-school program. Guardians are also encouraged to play Woogi World™ with their children at local libraries that offer computers with Internet access.

Answers - Safety and Parental Controls

1) Is the personal information of my students safe?

One of the missions of Woogi World™ is to teach children to avoid giving out their personal information online. In keeping with that goal, the information collected from each family is minimal and is kept safe and confidential. This information is requested so we can:

• Provide families with service opportunities close to residence
• Monitor and enforce age participation limits
• Provide local prizes
• To view our privacy policy please click here

2) How is your virtual world safe from predators and safe for kids to use?

Parental permission and involvement is our underlying theme. We email parents each time a child chooses to engage in an activity. There is NO worldwide web access in Woogi World™; we ensure they are 100% safe.

3) I'm concerned with the "chat" feature on Woogi World™, Can you explain how it works and how it is safe?

Woogi World™ developed a chat that restricts children to an approved dictionary of words. Parents can decide which, if any of their children, may use the chatting feature. We also incorporated several safety features such as the ability to block what another child says, and the ability to report another child to the Woogi World™ support staff. Moderators are frequently online monitoring the activity of children's conversations. (Despite these safety features, it may be appropriate to disable the chat for smaller children.) Parents have the ability to block or allow their children's participation in the chatting feature.

The Woogi World™ chat is not available to children until the "chatting mission" (Mission #2) has been completed. This mission teaches proper chat etiquette. We hope children will learn the proper rules of chatting in this safe chat before learning the hard way in the millions of unmonitored chatting locations online. The best way to truly view our content and preview Woogi World™ and its great activities is to sign up for a free account yourself. To sign up for your own account click here.

4) I don't want my child on the Internet too much. Is there a timer on your site to limit play?

There is a way to monitor/limit your children's use of Woogi World™. In the parental login, parents can choose which times, what amount, and what days their child can access Woogi World™.

5) Will this program addict my child to the Internet?

Unlike most children's websites whose goal is to addict kids to their site, one of the main missions of Woogi World™ is to help children choose to get off the computer, and into real life. Woogi World™ does this by awarding kids for their completion of at-home activities, home projects, service projects, and much more. As part of each mission, children must complete at least one offline activity in order to complete the mission and receive points. Though we do all in our power to encourage a responsible use of Woogi World™, we encourage guardians to help children learn these principles and take responsibility for their child's internet usage.