Dear Parents,
Digital media and technology continue to evolve at a dizzying pace, bringing extraordinary opportunities as well as real challenges for our kids. Students are using the immense power of the internet and mobile technologies to explore, connect, create, and learn in ways never before imagined. But with this power come ethical dilemmas and challenging issues, such as privacy violations, digital distractions, media balance and well-being, and more, that are surfacing both in schools and at home. Do these comments and questions resonate with you:
- “Other parents in this community have totally different technology rules!”
- “The kids are going on break soon; will they be staring at their screens all week?”
- “What should I do about phones/devices at sleepovers?”
- “How should I deal with Fortnite?”
- “Kids use computers at school, and then go home to use a computer, tablet, phone, television - should parents and teachers worry about screen time?”
- “Should I let my kid have a YouTube Channel?”
We all have these same questions and concerns, but where do we begin to teach and prepare our kids to harness the power of technology for responsible participation and active engagement?
At Bright School, we believe students need digital citizenship skills to participate fully in their communities and make smart choices online and in life. Using Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship Curriculum, designed and developed in partnership with Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, all grade levels are guided by digital citizenship lessons which take on real challenges and digital dilemmas that they are facing today, and give them the skills needed to succeed as digital learners, leaders, and citizens tomorrow.
Using the scope of this framework, we will share with you in the coming months best practices and opportunities for you to talk and engage with your child surrounding privacy & security, media-balance and well-being, digital footprint and identity, relationships and communication, media literacy, and digital drama and cyberbullying.
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Assistant Head of School and Director of Technology
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Internet safety goes way beyond protecting our kids from strangers or blocking inappropriate content. It’s about helping your kids use the Internet productively and practice safe, responsible online behavior – especially when you’re not there to answer their questions or check in on where they’ve ventured. Keep in mind that what may seem like basic knowledge to parents is new to kids just starting in the digital world. Having a conversation before your kid embarks online helps set expectations and establish ground rules. Here are some basic guidelines and tips to guide you on this digital journey:
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Screen time shouldn’t always be alone time. Digital devices should be in an open area, not in a child’s room. Co-view, co-play and co-engage with your children when they are using screens. This encourages social interactions, bonding, and learning.
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Treat media as you would any other environment in your child’s life. Set limits; kids need and expect them. Know your children’s friends, both online and off. Know what platforms, software, and apps your children are using, what sites they are visiting on the web, and what they are doing online. Many families use filtering software to help limit the websites/apps children can access. Some programs have monitoring features that can tell you which sites/apps your child visits and can even send you a message letting you know your child is online. (While such programs have come a long way since the early bug-ridden days, they are not a substitute for supervision and communication.)
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Apps for kids: do YOUR homework. More than 80,000 apps are labeled as educational, but little research has demonstrated their actual quality. The number of online games and websites are even more staggering. Look to organizations like Common Sense Media for reviews about age-appropriate apps, online games and programs to guide you in making the best choices for your children.
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Discuss personal vs private info. Talk about the difference between what’s OK to share online (favorite color) and what’s not (home address). Instruct your child to never give out personal information online, including his/her full name, age, school, phone number, address or teams. Teach your child to be generic and anonymous on the Internet.
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Keep your children out of online chat rooms, and do your best to reinforce the old rule, “never talk to strangers.” Chat rooms are well documented as a popular place for sex offenders to meet their prey, even in “child-friendly” chat rooms. Make sure your child knows that no matter how nice an online “friend” may seem to be, they are still a stranger, and may not be who they appear to be.
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