Email Etiquette for 8 Year Olds

I am the tech specialist for my school district. The state technology standards, at least here, include communicating with others, which includes the use of email. If you are concerned about what she is writing, I think you are on the right track with talking with her about what is okay and what is not okay. These discussions should be happening in class also. I'm not sure that the email she sent is what would be considered okay for school email- as it is supposed to be an extension of class activities and assignments (This is a teacher responsibility- the guidelines may need to be explained better in class by the teacher as far as what they are supposed to use their school email accounts for and what they are not for). As far as a book, I would recommend "Raising a Digital Child" by Mike Ribble. It is written for parents. You can get it from Amazon for about $20. There are also a couple of websites that can give you and your daughter something to talk about- www.netsmartz.org, www.connectsafely.org, and http://cybersmartcurriculum.org/
A very important tip- don't make your daughter scared to go online, just teach her how to behave online and what to do (a response you think is appropriate) if someone says or does something she doesn't like. Scare tactics have been proven not to work, as children, especially teens, will do it anyway. There has been quite a bit of success in teaching kids how to act appropriately online and how to respond appropriately to others, including proper email etiquette.

Do not let your daughter email-she is too young. I have never heard of this age emailing. This will be a slippery slope if you allow it to continue. I also cannot see a school sancioning this at all. Mine would never. You may want to bring it up to administration so that they can stop this so you don't have to be the bad guy.

The best thing you can do is explain to her that whatever she writes on the computer is readable by anyone at any time. Things that you would not say to someones face should not be sent in an email. Explain to her that the delete button doesnt really mean something is gone forever, it means that it was put away but someone can always find it.

Children... should, take classes on cyber safety. At my daughter's school... they do that for parents AND children.... and it is taught by a Police Officer from the Internet Crimes division.

The human brain is not even fully developed until 26 years old... a mere 8 year old, cannot 'know' about e-mail nor internet safety... off the cuff by instinct. Even if taught... kids still do not KNOW nor practice, total safety about it... nor 'manners' about it. Even grown Adults... do not know these things.
ie: cyber bullying... is rampant among teens who go online and e-mailing.

If your daughter was questioned about her e-mail.... you need to teach her about it... or wait until she is older, to use e-mail or internet.

And, it will vary per each school...and HOW they manage the children.... who go online and e-mail each other. There SHOULD be a Computer Tech there.... who teaches that to the children. The venue/school, is responsible for teaching the children... not just letting them go online or e-mail without supervision or knowledge about "rules" for it.
The school... HAS to have protocols for it and "rules." Not just letting kids do it. That is irresponsible.

all the best,
Susan

I don't know of any books available, but maybe you can have her limit her emails to a small handful of subjects. Anything outside of that she should ask. I don't think what she wrote could be offensive, but I do see what you mean and where this could go. Besides, some parents go through all their children's emails and adult may take things wrong and it is in writing.