18 photo: Faux Paw savvy surfers Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson reads to students who are a part of Faux Paw, an Internet safety program. Schools deliver Internet safety program to third-graders By Tiffannie Bond » W hen it comes to technology, kids often are better at navigating cyberspace than adults. But while they are smart, they’re not as savvy about safety as their parents.Protecting children is the goal of an Internet safety program called Faux Paw, named for a techno cat who has learned his lesson from a misstep or two.Faux Paw launched at Summerlin’s Lummis Elementary School in October. It is one of about 20 local public and private schools to offer the lessons to third-graders as a start to the Clark County School District’s plan to implement the lessons into its elementary school curriculum.Using a storybook, online tutorials and other materials, the lessons present the Internet as a big city with safe and dangerous places. It teaches children how to keep themselves and their information safe, and encourages them to inform adults about their adventures.According to the Internet Keep Safe Coalition, which produced the Faux Paw program, 20 percent of youth “using the Internet get an online sexual solicitation in a one-year period, and 29 percent of children will freely give out their home address if asked.”Local nurse Vicki Lynn Cichon, a longtime member of the Clark County Medical Society Alliance, helped bring the program to Nevada.“If you teach them (when they’re young) … it can save a great deal of frustration and heartache,” Cichon says. “It’s something we all need to be aware of and do what we can to educate the public on what’s out there.”The Clark County Medical Alliance charged itself with launching the program as a public health issue. Symantec, the State of Nevada Medical Association Alliance and the American Medical Association Alliance provided grants to make the program possible.Those interested in Faux Paw and tips on how to keep children safe on the Internet can visit www.ikeepsafe.org. n your town | yourStyle magazine