Digital Wellness and Safety

Normalize Discussions About Technology With Kids

Use real-life news stories or videos as conversation starters. Try supportive open-ended questions like:

• “What do your friends like to do online?”
• “Have you ever seen something online that made you feel weird or uncomfortable?”
• “What apps or games do you think are fun? Why?”

Modeling Healthy Tech Habits as a Parent or Caregiver

Kids watch and imitate how we use screens and social media. Ways to model positive digital habits:

• Use your phone intentionally: for connection, education, or creativity—not endless scrolling.
• Avoid using screens during family meals or important conversations.
• Limit your own screen time, especially in the evening.
• Be open about your own tech struggles and strategies.
• Take social media breaks and explain why.

Setting Clear Boundaries and Expectations

Clear boundaries reduce conflict and help build lifelong tech habits. Suggestions for building routines:

• Create a family media plan (example: General Media Family Contract from Panda)
• Designate “tech-free” times (e.g., dinner, car rides, 30 mins or 1 hour before bed).
• Charge devices outside the bedroom at night.
• Set app time limits and parental controls. 
• Encourage non-screen hobbies (sports, reading, cooking, music, etc.).

Privacy Settings & Parental Controls

Learn how to set up safety features on your child's device and social media accounts with these helpful guides:

• Social Media Privacy Setting Guide
• How to Use Built-In Controls
• Top Parental Control Apps

View more helpful tips here: Follow-Up Resources for Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age – Elementary School Edition from Spark Kindness and Natick 180

Additional Key Resources

• Digital Aged (founded by Dr. Walsh)
  • Including downloadable resources: How To Know If Your Child Is Ready For A Phone and Screen Time: How Much Is Too Much?
• Parent's Guide to Healthy Tech Use from Natick 180
• Digital Literacy & Well-Being: Family Activity from Common Sense Education

Recommended Books to Explore

• 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High Tech World by Jean Twenge
• Growing Up in Public by Devorah Heitner, PhD
• First Phone: A Child's Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Etiquette by Catherine Pearlman, PhD LCSW

Quick Read Articles

• Making Digital Well-Being a Habit from Common Sense Media
• Selfies, Wealthies, and Staying Emotionally Healthy: Dr. Jill Walsh on Your Kids and Their Phones from Curious Minds Blog at University School of Milwaukee
• Navigating Tech With Kids: Reflections on Screenagers Elementary School Age Edition with resources and tools from Spark Kindness
• 5 Tips For Helping Kids Balance Their Media Lives from Common Sense Education
• Kids Shouldn’t Access Social Media Until They’re Old Enough to Drive, Book Says from The 74

Helpful Podcasts, Webinars and More

• Get Screen Smart: Essential Tech Knowledge Needed for Digital Parenting - #AskTheExperts Webinar from Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
• Screen Deep Podcast from Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
• Screenagers Movie Blog