Post date: Feb 27, 2018 8:36:32 PM
"When can I get my own cell phone? ALL of my friends have one."
"Why do I have to stop playing games on my tablet? I'll play one of the "educational" games."
"Why can't I watch any more Netflix? You let me watch way more episodes yesterday!"
While I encourage my children to ask my wife and I any question that comes to mind, these are not the questions I want. However, these are the questions we hear daily from our 5th, 3rd, and 1st grade daughters. As much as I would like to say I have it down and am consistent with how technology use is managed in my house I am not. The battle over technology usage is real and forces all around my children and our Delaney and Roderick students are telling them that they need more of it. Technology provides instant satisfaction and gratification. It even offers the opportunity to escape the troubles of life, not into an imaginative world they've created with their friends around the neighborhood but one that has been shaped for them to tell them what they need and should want.
Technology with all of its benefits and opportunities poses a variety of dangers and pitfalls to kids and their development. But let's not think that the problem stops with our students. We play as big a roll in this as they do. We are tasked with being the parents, teachers, and leaders setting an example for the first generation of students growing up in a completely tech integrated world with a life that can be lived solely from a smartphone. Why does this task seem so hard? It is because we don't have a series of mentors that have gone before us to show us the way. Since this is the first set of children going through this we are the first set of parents, teachers, and leaders going through this as well. Lucky us!
This is a great opportunity to engage in discussions with one another and with our children and students to encourage them how to live safely as digitally literate citizens of a new world. As we continue to have parents bringing questions to us about technology use, as we address students that misbehave on their Google Docs, or as we observe social media misuse throughout our community let's strive to engage in meaningful conversations that will help shape how our students use technology now and going forward. Here are some resources to get you started.
When should a child get a smartphone? It's more about the conversation that happens before than the date you set. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/18/02/when-give-your-child-smartphone
What is your digital footprint? How deeply should I be involved? What about tech what it is time for bed? https://www.coachweston.com/blog/3-things-you-can-do-today-to-be-a-better-digital-parent
Being a tech role model. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/be-a-role-model-find-a-healthy-balance-with-media-and-technology
Will Technology Make My Kid Fat, Dumb, and Mean? Debunking the most common media myths and truths with real research and practical advice. https://goo.gl/Z4oCJv
Good websites for general research and guidelines on technology use. http://www.connectsafely.org/ https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
The Tech Task Force will be continuing to look at our policies around technology usage to make sure they provide the framework for creating positive digital citizens to become leaders and role models in our digital world.