SEL in Action at Home
October 2021 - SEL & Digital Life
According to the American Academy of Children & Adolescent Psychiatry, "on average, teens are online almost nine hours a day, not including time for homework." In a 2018 study by Erikson Institute, 85% of parents surveyed reported allowing their young children under age 6 to use technology. With more than three-quarters of those using technology, along with their child, daily for up to two hours.
"We may think of our kids' online, mobile, and technological activities as "digital life," but to them, it's just life. In their world, being able to connect and communicate 24/7 from just about any location is normal – and expected!", says Common Sense, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources to educators, advocates, and families in the digital learning space.
Just as families help their children learn to swim or drive a car, families can also help guide their children to live in a digital world responsibly. In this edition, we highlight Common Sense's SEL in Digital Life Resource Center. Here, families and caregivers will find practical ways to have meaningful conversations with their children (K-12) about their digital lives supported by the five SEL Competencies, Self Awareness, Self Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making. For example, "How do you think digital devices and social media affect your friendships?" (Relationship Skills, 9-12).
With support, digital tools we use daily can be powerful tools for family engagement leading to healthy, balanced lives in a connected world.
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING QUICK LINKS
Family Lunch & Learn - Self-Management & Responsible Decision-Making, October 13
Support your child's social and emotional learning as they navigate the digital world, with Common Sense's Social and Emotional Learning in Digital Life - Family Conversation resources.
K - 2nd Grade
SELF-AWARENESS: Reflect on Feelings Created When Using Technology. Help your child learn how to pay attention to feelings while using devices, such as tablets, phones, or computers. Use these questions to talk with them about the different ways technology makes them feel and what to do if they feel uncomfortable or frustrated.
1. Do you ever feel sad or mad when you use your devices?
2. What are some things you do that make you happy when using technology?
For a complete list of SEL Competency Family Conversation questions (K - 2nd) click here.
3rd - 5th Grade
SELF-MANAGEMENT: Find a Healthy Balance with Technology. It's important to reflect on habits when it comes to using media like TV shows, movies, apps, or video games. Use these questions to talk with your children about how they define media balance for themselves.
How are some media choices more healthy or less healthy than others (for example, how they affect sleep, activity/movement, emotions)?
What do you think healthy media balance looks like for our family? What are the different kinds of activities, both online and offline, that you would want to do on a given day? Week?
For a complete list of SEL Competency Family Conversation questions (3rd - 5th) click here.
6th - 8th Grade
RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING: Stay Safe When Chatting with Others Online. Strategies are helpful in making responsible decisions when online. Use these questions to talk with your child about the benefits and risks of chatting with people online.
What are some of the risks of talking with people you don't know well?
What can you do if you ever have a "red flag feeling" when chatting with someone online?
9th - 12th Grade
RELATIONSHIP SKILLS: Build Healthy Relationships Online and Offline. Technology and the internet can affect friendships. Use these questions to talk with your teen about building healthy relationships when communicating online.
- How do you think digital devices and social media affect your friendships?
- Do you feel pressure to respond right away when someone texts or DMs you?
CONVERSATION STARTERS
Optimistic October Calendar
NEW!!! - PARENT/FAMILY SEL SPOTLIGHT
Mindful Mondays - Enter to Win an SEL Goodie Bag! Drawing Held 10/31!
Visit our Website!
Dallas ISD - SEL Department
Email: selfamilies@dallasisd.org
Website: www.dallasisd.org/selfamilies
Location: 9400 North Central Expressway, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 972-794-3612