Archive
Archive
Dear Kindergarten Parents,
A couple of weeks ago at Parent U, I spoke about “Connected but Controlled,” and gave tips for healthy tech use at home. I wanted to expand on what I shared and give some encouragement as you navigate technology with your children. Raising children has always meant setting boundaries and watching out for their safety. Most parents wouldn’t hesitate to step in if a situation in the real world seemed unsafe or unhealthy. That same protective instinct is just as necessary in the digital world. Children need guidance online as much as they do in the physical world.
Just because technology feels new, unavoidable, or overwhelming doesn’t mean traditional parenting wisdom has lost its value. If boundaries and limits are important for real-world safety, they are equally important online. Setting screen time rules, creating device-free zones, and having open conversations about digital choices aren’t just tech strategies. They are extensions of the loving limits set for children every day.
One of the biggest missteps I see is parents using screens as a distraction or a quick fix when parents “need a moment” or when children are fussy or having a tantrum. Handing over a device may quiet things down for the moment, but studies show this actually increases emotional reactivity and makes it harder for children to learn how to handle their feelings in the long run. In a recent study following children ages 3–5, increased device use for calming was linked to a measurable rise in emotional reactivity after just 3–6 months, with stronger effects noted in boys and those with existing behavior challenges (source).
It’s not always easy to say “no” or to stand firm, especially when children push back. But remember: being a parent means making decisions that protect, nurture, and prepare kids for their future, even when it’s hard or when a tantrum is thrown by a 4-year-old! Every limit teaches children something valuable about self-control, safety, and how deeply they are cared for. The boundaries parents set in the tech world are acts of love, just like teaching a child to look both ways before crossing the street.
Here are the 7 key takeaways for those who attended Parent U. If you’d like to talk more about these, we would be happy to consider it for an upcoming Parent Coffee Chat!
Devices don’t “belong” to children
Create a family contract for technology use
Create Screen-Free Ideas with your child(ren)
Establish that personal devices are for learning/education
Set a schedule of when and where devices are/aren’t allowed
Determine what parental tech controls you want (router or app)
Remember, it’s not too late to do all of these! You’re the parent!
In Christ,
Erin Johnson
Elementary Assistant Principal
Oct 1 - Public Holiday
Oct 6 to 10 - Fall Break (No School)
Oct 17 & 18 - Parent Teacher Conferences (No school for students)
Oct 28 - Influenza Vaccinations
Oct 29 - Public Holiday
Nov 24 & 25 - Regular school for KG
Nov 26 - 28 - No School for KG
Date: September 29, 2025 (Mon)
Time: 12:45 - 1:45pm
Do you have questions - about the curriculum, about Admissions to P1 or about anything else about school?
Please join Mr Welch and Mrs Wu for a Lunch Chat over Zoom where we hope to answer your questions.
The Kindergarten Parent Association reps are collecting questions, please scan the QR code to submit your questions.
📢 Both Gymnastics and Art classes are full
ICS Shek Mun Campus Lower Gym! ⚽
If a different adult is coming to pick up your child from school, please notify the Kindergarten Office giving us their full name, Hong Kong Identity card number and their telephone number.
All people coming to pick up your child must:
Be on the authorized list on PowerSchool i.e. a parent has given us permission to release their child to that person.
Bring the purple pick-up card (original card, photographs will not be accepted).
In absence of the pick-up card, for persons we do not recognize we will either - check their Hong Kong Identity Card or call the phone number you have given us.
If we are unsure of the identity of the person picking up your child, we will check their identity.
If the person is not listed on PowerSchool, and you have not informed us, we will call parents to confirm.
If your child usually takes the bus home and changes to being picked up from school, please notify us. Please ensure that the person coming to school is on our authorized list. If in doubt, please give us their name
If you change or employ a new Domestic Helper, please remove your previous helper or add a new helper to the pick-up contacts on PowerSchool.
If your child is sick, please keep your child at home to rest and recover and notify the school by completing the relevant e-collect form on PowerSchool of:
Your child’s absence / number of days your child is likely to be off school
Your child’s body temperature (please state actual temperature, not just “has a fever”)
Once recovering from a fever (38C or above), please let us know the day and time your child’s fever subsided without medication. If you do not specify a time, we will use the time from your email. We can then specify how soon your child may return to school (48 hours after fever subsided).
Your child’s symptoms (not just “unwell”).
If your child has Chickenpox, Hand Foot and Mouth or other notifiable disease - please send in a doctor’s note confirming diagnosis. We also require a doctor’s note stating that your child is fit to return to school.
Red Eyes—conjunctivitis can be very infectious. If your child has red eyes, please give us a doctor’s note stating that your child is not infectious before they can come to school.
Department of Health requirements state that if a child has a fever (38C or above), or repeated diarrhea they need to stay home for at least 48 hours after the symptoms have subsided (without medication).
Even though your child’s fever may have gone, a child may still have a runny nose or bad cough and are not fit to return to school. Please keep them at home to rest.
Please do not send your child to school if they are still taking medication following an illness. The medicine may make your child sleepy and they still need time to recover and rest at home.
If your child has recovered but still has a mild cough (not chesty or coughing up phlegm), they may return to school but should wear a face mask.
Parents, be empowered and equipped with the knowledge and resources you need to support your child's growth and success. This page provides resources, and we hope to help parents navigate the challenges of parenting and support your child's overall well-being. Make sure to check out our parent page HERE!
International Christian School – Kindergarten
852-3156-1234 | kindergarten@ics.edu.hk | G/F, Kam Ho House (Block H), Kam Fung Court, Ma On Shan, N.T., Hong Kong