Digital Diet

What apps should I use?

A topic of discussion among families is trying to determine which apps are the "right" ones. In this activity we will explore this issue and how we can balance our digital diet.

Family Challenge

Many of us use technology as part of our daily lives, but have we really thought about what apps/sites we use the most? In this challenge we ask you, as a family, to track your phone use over the course of a week. Then, have discussions about what you discover. What many families have found is that simply talking about how we use technology (for both parents and students) can help all of us make more informed decisions in the future, and it can highlight how difficult it is to maintain a balanced digital diet.

Alternative Family Discussion

If your children don't have devices or regular access to devices then the above challenge may not apply to your family. Instead, have a discussion about the dilemma below. Use these questions to help guide you:

Dilemma

Bree loves using the various devices around the house. She is 5 years old and watches age appropriate videos and becomes engrossed in interactive educational apps.

Her parents realize that she is learning whilst she is doing this, but are concerned that she is spending too much time on the screen.

They bring in a guideline saying that she can use a device for learning purposes for an hour a day. If she wants to do more "learning" then she can use one of the many books/materials that are also at home.

• Do you consider this an issue that needs supervising? Why or why not?

• Are the guidelines appropriate? Would you do more or less?

• Has your family struggled with this issue, and if so, how have you addressed it?

Further Listening: Interesting Podcast Episode