Raising Digital Citizens: How Games Can Help Families Talk About Online Safety

In a world where children are growing up surrounded by screens, helping them navigate online spaces safely can feel like one of the biggest parenting challenges of our time. But what if these important conversations could happen in a playful, engaging way—without lectures, fear, or awkwardness?

That’s exactly what Sandrine Alexandre Hughes, part-time lawyer, mum of three, and creator of Team Together Online, set out to achieve. She joined Leanne on the Parent Like a Psychologist podcast to talk about her journey from concerned parent to the creator of two innovative card games that make e-safety conversations fun, natural, and meaningful.

From Concern to Creation: A Parent’s Mission

Sandrine’s inspiration came from hearing tragic stories about children’s online experiences—long before the pandemic brought online safety into public focus.

“Back in 2019, no one was really talking about online safety,” Sandrine explains. “When I started hearing about these stories, I was horrified—not just by what was happening, but by how little awareness there was.”

She began a small blog, See Me Together Online, to raise awareness among parents. But she quickly realized that while awareness was important, what families really needed was a way to talk—a way to bring kids, parents, and even friends together around the same table.

“Parents wanted to protect their kids but felt anxious about the topic. Kids didn’t want to be lectured. I wanted to create something that removed the fear and made the learning natural—and a game felt like the perfect medium.”

Introducing ‘All the Likes’: A Card Game for Kids and Families

Sandrine’s first game, All the Likes, is designed for children aged roughly 6 to 12 and uses the simple, familiar mechanics of a Snap! card game to spark conversations about online safety.

Each of the 13 categories of cards represents a different area of online risk—things like seeing inappropriate content, cyberbullying, overuse of screens, or encountering strangers online.

But the cards themselves are anything but scary.

They’re bright, playful, and age-appropriate. One features a smiling spider and says “Block Strangers.” Another, featuring a unicorn and rainbow, reads “Is it true for real?”—a gentle introduction to media literacy and the idea that not everything online can be trusted.

“The beauty of it is that you can explain each card in a way that fits your child’s age or developmental level,” says Sandrine. “A six-year-old and a ten-year-old won’t need the same conversation—but the card gives you a way in.”

Alongside the safety cards are “action cards” that add silly challenges—like speaking in slow motion or pretending to be a robot. These keep the atmosphere light, fun, and full of laughter, reinforcing the idea that learning about safety doesn’t have to be serious to be effective.

“Most of the time,” Sandrine adds, “you don’t even need to start the conversation. Kids ask questions about the cards themselves, and that’s when the real learning happens.”

For Teens and Adults: ‘Smoke, Mirrors & Filters’

While All the Likes helps families start early, Sandrine’s second game, Smoke, Mirrors & Filters, is designed for older teens and adults (15+)—because online safety conversations shouldn’t stop when kids hit adolescence.

This game uses thought-provoking and often funny prompts to get people talking about their online habits:

• How many selfies do you take before you post one?

• What was your first email address?

• Have you ever received an email that wasn’t meant for you?

Players can share stories, laugh, or go deeper, exploring how online behaviors connect with real-world emotions and relationships.

“Teenagers might not tell their parents everything,” Sandrine says, “but they might open up with their peers. This game helps them do that—and helps adults reflect on their own online habits too.”

Leanne notes that Smoke, Mirrors & Filters mirrors the natural shift in parenting as children grow: from instruction to coaching, from telling to sharing.

“It’s about building mutual understanding, not control,” she adds.

Shared Responsibility: Parents, Schools, and Society

The conversation also turned to a broader question: Who’s responsible for teaching online safety—parents, or schools?

Sandrine believes it must be a shared effort.

“Screens are everywhere. It can’t just be on parents or schools—it has to be a partnership. Kids need to hear consistent messages about online behavior, empathy, and boundaries.”

Leanne agreed, especially when it comes to neurodivergent children, who may be more vulnerable to manipulation or misunderstandings online.

“For some kids, online spaces are where they find connection and belonging,” she said. “That makes tools like Sandrine’s even more valuable—because they meet kids where they are, in a safe and guided way.”

The Social Media Ban: Challenges and Opportunities

In light of new government legislation around children’s access to social media, both Sandrine and Leanne reflected on how society can respond.

Sandrine sees the ban as a necessary step but acknowledges it brings new challenges.

“Social media wasn’t designed for kids,” she says. “But we also need to ask—if children feel they’ll suffer from not being online, what’s missing offline? We need to rebuild those offline connections.”

Her games are one small but powerful way of doing that—creating joyful, screen-free moments that strengthen family bonds and emotional resilience.

A Little Humor Goes a Long Way

Sandrine’s website, teamtogetheronline.com , doesn’t just sell the games—it celebrates the message with a playful twist. There’s merchandise like mugs that say “Today I’ll make you forget to check your phone” and caps embroidered with “I’m your favorite notification.”

Because while the topic is serious, Sandrine believes the best way to get people to engage is through connection, humor, and heart.

“It’s all about making these conversations joyful,” she says. “If families laugh together while learning, that’s where real change happens.”

🎧 Listener Bonus

Sandrine Alexandre Hughes is offering Parent Like a Psychologist listeners an exclusive 20% discount on All the Likes with the code PARENTING at checkout.
🗓️ Valid for 7 days after the release of this episode (while stocks last).

👉 Shop now at: teamtogetheronline.com 

Final Thoughts

Online safety isn’t just about avoiding harm—it’s about empowering kids to make smart, compassionate, and confident choices in a digital world.
Through play, Sandrine Alexandre Hughes has turned what could be an anxiety-provoking topic into something families can enjoy together—building trust, communication, and digital literacy one game at a time.

🎲 Explore the games and resources at TeamTogetherOnline.com 
☕ And maybe grab a mug that says, “I’m your favorite notification.” Because staying connected starts offline.