I’m sure we can all agree that technology has brought some positives and negatives into our lives. While it can be a useful and helpful tool in so many ways, it has also been associated with the rise of anxiety and depression that we see today. I always like to think, “ I hope the people in my life always know that they are more important than any screen in front of me” and want to model proper technology use for them. That being said, our devices seem to be the tools that we need to organize and live our daily lives and this will continue for our children too. So, let’s teach and model digital citizenship, find a balance and enjoy the best of both worlds.
Digital citizenship is important in the world we live in today. We are amazed at what our youth can do with electronics and computers, see the growing use of technology daily, and unfortunately sometimes we see the disadvantages of that too. Digital citizenship can help our students navigate technology and the digital world safely and responsibly so that these tools are used to help them learn and grow in a positive way. It is so important to give our kids the tools they need to succeed to help them make responsible choices, treat themselves and others respectfully both on and offline.
As our children get older and want to navigate social media, there is a whole new world out there that sometimes can go unnoticed by parents. It is important to have conversations with your child about using technology responsibly. Decide on your rules and boundaries with social media with your child. Monitor their usage. Modeling responsible technology and social media use is also important for parents too. For example, it is easy to get caught up in the digital world and feel like we as adults need to check our phones constantly. Model taking a break, put the phones away at dinner, have a conversation with your family. Kids notice when we are always on our phones too. Have conversations about appropriate technology use and why it is important to use them responsibly. This may include topics like cyberbullying, online safety and trustworthy people and sites, respecting privacy and more. This website below has many ideas on things that you can chat with your child about to keep them safe online.
At school, we are doing our part to discuss responsible technology use. We have some guest speakers coming in this month to talk about digital citizenship and online safety. Please ask your child about what they are learning and continue these discussions at home. Of course, if you have any questions, please reach out!
Enjoy your Thanksgiving long weekends with family and friends, get outside and find something to be grateful for!
