Empowering children online: a holistic skills framework for cybersecurity

Abstract As a part of the Erasmus + funded project Super Cyber Kids, we have devised a skills framework to enhance the protection of children aged between 8 and 13 years in their Internet and online activities. The framework was developed through a systematic literature review, followed by a two-round Delphi study for validation. During this process, we identified N = 40 relevant studies and obtained validation from up to N = 18 professionals in cybersecurity, education, and cybersecurity education during the Delphi study. The resulting framework is presented as a matrix and offers a comprehensive set of skills aligned with the NIST (National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education) cybersecurity framework, specifically tailored to promote cybersecurity awareness among children in this age group.