Educators should be mindful when using technology to ensure activities provide empowered learning, creative communication, global collaboration, knowledge constructing, innovative design, computational thinking, and digital citizenship. Emphasize digital wellness by establishing healthy screen time limits, encouraging educator to a balance between screen-based activities and other pursuits, and promote activities that support emotional, physical, social, and cognitive development. Consider factors such as: physical health, sleep disruption, social and emotional development, cognitive development, and academic performance. Create common blended learning spaces in the classroom that support physical, emotional, social and cognitive development to increase engagement, physical movement, and collaboration.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends minimizing or eliminating media exposure, other than video chatting, for children under the age of 18 months. For older preschool-age children, media limits are very appropriate. Have a strategy for managing electronic media to maximize its benefits.
Psychological scientists examine potential beneficial and harmful effects of social media use on adolescents’ social, educational, psychological, and neurological development.
To make the most of the Internet, kids need to be prepared to make smart decisions. Be Internet Awesome empowers kids with tools and education to confidently and safely explore, grow, and play online.
ConnectSafely is a Silicon Valley, Calif.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to educating people about online safety, privacy, security and digital wellness. Our resources include research-based safety tips, parents’ guidebooks, advice, news and commentary on all aspects of tech use and policy. We offer in-depth guides and “quick-guides” for parents, educators, youth and policymakers along with resources for seniors and other adults. We also produce the twice-weekly ConnectSafely Report for CBS News Radio along with webcasts, podcasts and special events.
Whether it’s social media, virtual reality or the emerging metaverse, connected technologies bring us enormous advantages, along with some challenges. ConnectSafely’s job is to help users get the most from their technology while managing the risks and help decision-makers craft sensible policies that encourage both innovation and responsible use. ConnectSafely has been a leading voice for rational, research-informed policies — not “moral panics” — when it comes to dealing with challenges brought about by emerging technologies.
The Family Online Safety Institute brings a unique, international perspective to the potential risks, harms as well as the rewards of our online lives. FOSI’s 30+ members are among the leading telecommunications, social media, cybersecurity, gaming and internet companies in the world. Our work encompasses public policy, industry best practices, and good digital parenting. The Family Online Safety Institute's Good Digital Parenting resources provide parents and caregivers with the tools they need to confidently navigate the online world with their families. Need help talking with your kids about online safety? Want to know about parental controls? Looking for a simple set of rules to use with your children? FOSI’s Good Digital Parenting provides you with videos, tip sheets, resources, blogs, and more.
WITH MANY OF US spending a lot of time in front of computer screens and phones, on apps and Facebook, at all hours, it’s natural to wonder: Is it harming us? It could be, especially if you’re in front of a screen close to bedtime or even during the day if you’re not taking enough breaks.
Teaching digital citizenship has never been more important. Prepare students to stay safe, solve problems and become a force for good.
Teaching digital well-being doesn’t mean providing students with a list of “don’ts.” It’s about the do’s – modeling and practicing skills that help young people become thoughtful, empathetic digital citizens who know how to use technology to learn and solve problems in their digital and physical communities.
The digital citizenship competencies, developed by the ISTE-led DigCit Coalition in conjunction with coalition partners, shift the conversation from don’ts to do’s.
Unfortunately, most American children spend about 5 to 8 hours on screens each day. Screen time can be habit-forming: Research shows that the more time children engage with screens, the harder time they have turning them off as they become older children. Plus, screen time has been linked to eating more, having trouble sleeping and poorer performance in school. Here are some ways to limit screen time.
Teach Digital Citizenship: Free lessons and activities that help students build essential digital habits and skills
Parents and caregivers should set rules that reduce “screen time” by limiting the amount of time children spend on the computer, watching TV and playing video games. The time spent in front of the screen could be better spent being more physically active.
This is a One Pager that describes good habits and digital citizenship skills for students.
Technology can eat away huge amounts of time for everyone in the family…computers, televisions, video games and phones. But did you know that the average child watches more than 2,300 hours of television each year, compared with only approximately 1,200 hours spent in school? As parents, we set the limits and examples. Try these suggestions to help your family cut back on screen time while still having fun.
Fill out the We Can! Screen Time Chart to see how much time your family spends in front of a screen. Keep one chart for each person.