Did you know? The average child between the age of 8 and 18 spends 53 hours a week with media and technology. (Pew Internet Research, July 2015)

Remember when a phone was just a phone? Phones are now for listening to music, sending texts, filming videos, snapping and sharing photos, and accessing the Internet. Kids are using computers and tablets to socialize, stream video, and create their own music for sharing. They are able to connect and share 24/7 from just about any location.

At Anna ISD, we want our students to make good decisions so they can take advantage of the powerful technology tools that fill their lives at both home and school. But in order to make good choices, they need to understand how the digital world works. The stakes are higher because our kids' technological abilities can be greater than their maturity and judgment.

This is why Anna ISD has partnered with Common Sense Media and is launching the Digital Citizenship Campaign where we will provide resources, tips, videos, and other materials to help parents and our AISD educators keep our students safe in the digital world. You can find all of our Digital Citizenship resources on our website. Please review these resources and most importantly, model positive digital behavior with your children as much as possible.

In addition, here are a few quick that parents can use at home:

• Keep the computer in a high-traffic area of your home.

• Establish limits for which online sites children may visit and for how long.

• Create a family media agreement.

• Remember that Internet technology is mobile so be sure to monitor cell phones, gaming devices, and laptops.

• Surf the Internet with your children and let them show you what they like to do online.

• Know who is connecting with your children online and set rules for social networking, instant messaging, e-mailing, online gaming, and using webcams.

• Continually dialog with your children about online safety.