Technology is a big part of our students' lives at Great Salt Bay Community School. From coding in the classroom to gaming at home, the digital world is exciting—but it can also be overwhelming. This page is designed to give you the tools, conversation starters, and resources you need to keep your child safe, kind, and balanced online.

What is a GSB Digital Citizen?

Elementary (PreK-4): A student who asks permission, protects their secrets (passwords), and is kind online.
Middle School (5-8): A student who balances their time, fact-checks information (especially with AI), and creates positive content.

Practical Tips for Home (The "Big Three")

Create Balance

Establish "Device-Free Zones" (like the dinner table) and "Device-Free Times". Research shows screens blue light interferes with sleep cycles. Charge all student devices in a common room (kitchen/living room) overnight, never by the bedside.

Family Tech Planners (Ages 2-13+)

Ensure Safety

Keep devices in shared family spaces (like the living room), especially overnight or for younger children. Check privacy settings together.

Common Sense Media Reviews – Look up any app or game here to see if it is age-appropriate.

Encourage Kindness

Remind your child: "If you wouldn't say it to their face, don't type it." Teach them that the internet never forgets.

ConnectSafely Parent Guides – Guides on Instagram, TikTok, Roblox, and more.

AI Literacy for Families

Students are growing up in a world with AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. You don't need to be an expert to guide them.

What You Need to Know:

It's a Tool, Not a Friend: AI can help brainstorm ideas, but it doesn't have feelings.
It Can Be Wrong: AI sometimes "hallucinates" (makes things up). Teach kids to fact-check.
Cheating vs. Using: Discuss when it is okay to use AI (brainstorming) and when it is not (writing an essay for you).

Resources to Explore:

Parent's Guide to AI (Common Sense Media)
Maine DOE AI Guidance (See how Maine schools are approaching this).

Tools & Resources

Educational Activities to Play Together

For Grades K-4:

Play 'Interland' (Be Internet Awesome) – An excellent game by Google that teaches kids how to spot scams and be kind online.
PBS KIDS CyberChase – Math and logic puzzles.

For Grades 5-8:

Digital Compass – A 'choose your own adventure' game about the consequences of digital choices.
Social Media Test Drive – A simulator that lets kids practice using social media safely before they get a real account.

Controlling Screen time

Use built-in settings collaboratively: limit notifications, turn off auto-play, and set device turn-off times.
iOS: Use Screen Time and Family Sharing for remote management.
Android: Use Google Family Link and Digital Well-being settings.
Focus Friends App: A cozy, gamified timer (by Hank Green) that encourages focus sessions by rewarding the user's "Bean Friend." Great for students with ADHD/concentration issues. Download: iOS App Store | Google Play
Focus on Prioritizing Key Activities: Shift the discussion from reducing screen time to prioritizing time for sleep, family time, and outdoor activities. Help identify media "attention hooks" that interfere. Learn More about Healthy Habits

Guidance

AAP's 5 C's of Media Guidance: A comprehensive framework from the American Academy of Pediatrics. View 5 C's Framework
Provides family tips for Grades 6-12 and a great resource for content ratings. Go to Common Sense
HealthyChildren.org: Trusted source for pediatric advice on media and making a Family Media Plan. Create a Family Media Plan or use Common Sense Media's Family Tech Planner

Social Media and Peer Dynamics

Self-Perception & Social Comparison: Discuss how viewing others' curated online lives affects their own self-esteem. Encourage them to keep constructive activities and let go of unhelpful content. Social Media & Mental Health
Recognizing Unrealistic Standards: Explicitly address unrealistic beauty, lifestyle, or social standards often found in media, linking them to self-worth and body image. Media, Body Image, & Self-Esteem
Conflict, Conduct, & Cyberbullying: Discuss appropriate digital conduct (digital footprint). Establish rules for handling conflict and negative peer interactions, and when/how to ask for help. Cyberbullying Guidance
Emotional Regulation: Help them notice emotional responses (e.g., anxiety or heart rate increase when a phone vibrates) and avoid using screens as a quick emotional fix. Tips for Managing Emotions
Check out TeenToks: TeenToks gives teens support from the people they listen to the most: other teens. Whatever the challenge—anxiety, peer pressure, negative thoughts, body image and more—we've got you covered.

Media Literacy

Communication & Discussion: Practice open-minded discussion. Ask questions rather than lecture and focus on collaborative problem-solving. Use a Family Tech Planner
Privacy, Safety, & Deception: Review privacy settings and discuss information sharing. Share scam experiences and identify hoaxes (e.g., poor grammar, suspicious logos). Tips on Scams & Safety
Tech Business Model Awareness: Research how platforms make money (selling ads/data). Read privacy policies collaboratively and learn data-sharing limitation strategies. How Tech Companies Use Your Data
Content Quality & Verification: Identify problematic content, watching for violence or poor role models. Discuss the difference between news, opinion, and advertising.