This week is Harmony Week and Bullying. No Way! celebrations at Prescott Primary Northern. One of the things I really appreciate about our school community is its diversity. We have families from countries all over the globe, and we all work very hard to make sure we build a community of understanding and harmony. Today as I went for a walk around school, I was reminded again of our incredible diversity and what a blessing it is to be a part of a community that respects one another regardless of differences. This does not mean we will always agree with each other, but it does mean we care for each other, in spite of our differences.  It is also Bullying. No Way! celebration and I thought I would share an article that you might find helpful around children and their use of technology. I firmly believe that we have done many of our children a disservice by giving them incredibly powerful device with video and internet capabilities, without some of the boundaries and restrictions they need as they grow and mature and learn how to use their phones responsibly. Over the past few weeks, we have been working with some students around how to make good decisions around how they use technology and the freedom and opportunities that it provides. You will have seen some extra articles in our newsletters around resources available to you and your family to help you work with your children. Below is an article you might find helpful in beginning the journey.

“Parents need to establish digital boundaries and be the pilot (for primary children) and co-pilot (for adolescents) of the digital plane.

Many parents establish screen time limits for their ‘screenagers’ (i.e. their children and teens) by stipulating how much time they can spend plugged in. Focusing solely on time is not the only digital boundary to consider. It’s best to expand our dialogue beyond screen time as the only metric that’s used to assess young people’s digital behaviours.

We also need to create boundaries around:

The screens kids use

The most critical boundary parents need to establish with their children and teens relates to what they’re doing online. Have conversations about the apps, platforms, games, videos, TV shows and media they consume and create. Visit the eSafety Commissioner’s or Common Sense Media’s websites to help you understand the various platforms and tools, so you’re better prepared to know the risks and lessen some of the potential pitfalls.

The time of day

Establish what technology can be used at different times of the day. Ideally, devices would be switched off at least sixty minutes before bedtime as the blue light can delay the onset of sleep and reduce the quality of their sleep. Minimise exposure to rapid-fire, fast-paced screen action before school as this can hyper-arouse the brain and make it challenging to pay attention in class.

Technology zones

As a family, determine the ‘no-go tech zones’ in your house such as bedrooms, bathrooms, meal areas and play areas. Encourage them to use technology in publicly accessible, high-traffic areas of the home such as the kitchen, dining or lounge area. A young person is very unlikely to be sending nudes whilst sitting on the lounge or kitchen bench!

The people they interact with

Talk to your child or teen about who they’re interacting with online and reassure them that if there’s a problem online, they need to come and talk to you, as the pilot or co-pilot of the digital plane and avoid withdrawing screen time as a punishment.

Setting and enforcing firm digital boundaries with children young people is vital if we want them to cultivate healthy digital behaviours. These skills are critical if the screen generation is to thrive in the digital world.” (Goodwin, 2021)

Have a great week with your kids,

Mark B