RADAR for Parents

🛰️ Helping Your Child Use RADAR to Check Websites

A Parent’s Guide to Smarter Internet Reading

In third grade, students are learning how to tell if the websites they visit are trustworthy and useful. To help with this, we use a kid-friendly tool called RADAR.

🧪 Parent‑Child RADAR Activity

Watch the video together, then use these steps to discuss and practice RADAR—a great way to help your third grader become a smart online reader!

🎯 Step 1: Quick Review Together

Ask your child:

“What is RADAR used for?”
“Can you name the five things it stands for?”

Make sure you both remember: Relevance, Authority, Date, Appearance, Reason.

❤️ Here is why RADAR is Important for Your Kid!

Your child is growing into a wise reader and digital citizen. Learning RADAR now helps them think critically and safely explore information online.

Parents, you and your child can be a Source Detective! 🕵️‍♂️

📚 What Is RADAR?

RADAR is an easy way for students to evaluate information online by asking 5 key questions:

R.A.D.A.R.

What does It mean?

What Parents Can Look For?

R – Relevance: Is it on topic?

Does the website match the subject your child is learning about?

A – Authority: Who made it?

Look for the author or organization. Is it a school, museum, or trusted group?

D – Date. Is it current?

Check for the year it was written or updated, especially for science or news.

A – Appearance it look good?

Watch for broken links, ads, or too many pop-ups—signs that it may not be a reliable site.

R – Reason

Why was it made?

Help your child notice if the site is meant to teach, sell, or persuade. Good sources give facts, not just opinions.

💡 Tips for Parents:

👀 Look at websites together and talk about what you notice.
🧠 Model thinking out loud: “Hmm, I wonder who wrote this?” or “Is this too old?”
❌ Help spot red flags like spelling errors, flashy ads, or missing authors.
✅ Use trusted sources like .edu, .gov, or library websites for projects.
💬 Talk about purpose: Ask your child, “Why do you think this site was made?”

After learning all about RADAR, let try this activity below

🖥️ Step 2: Explore a Website as a Team

Choose a simple website (e.g. kid-safe site or a general info page) and go through RADAR together:

RADAR Step

What You & Your Child Look For

R – Relevance

Does the website answer the question you're asking?

A – Authority

Who made this page? Is there an author or group?

D – Date

Is there a date? Could the information be old?

A – Appearance

Is it neat and organized or full of mistakes/pop‑ups?

R – Reason

Was this written to teach or to sell/convince?

Take turns asking:

“Why do you think this part matters?”
“What do you notice?”

💬 Step 3: Talk & Reflect

After evaluating the site, ask your child:

“Which part was easiest to figure out?”
“Which was harder?”
“Would you trust this site for a school project?”

This helps build awareness and critical thinking!

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