Digital Citizenship

Parents and caregivers play an important role in teaching children how to make healthy choices regarding digital use and citizenship. It’s important to remember that our children’s brains are still developing, specifically their prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for critical thinking, judgement, problem solving, and impulse control. When a child or adolescent views content that shows violence harmful stereotypes, or not age appropriate it has an impact on their own ideas, behaviors and feelings. As our children are “growing up digital”, the following tips may be helpful to them and to you:

• Limit the amount of screen time to 1-2 hours a day (or less if you notice it is negatively impacting your child).

• Keep your child’s bedrooms free of screen media, including tv, game systems, laptops, iPads, cell phones, etc.)

• Preview media that your child is interested in before you allow them to view/play it.

• Co-view media (if appropriate) with them to discuss the content. This will help them to develop critical thinking skills.

• Create a family media plan that everyone follows. This plan will ensure that media does not displace many important activities, such as, face to face interaction, outdoor activities, exercise and sleep.

The benefits of media and digital devices, if used in moderation and in an appropriate way can enhance our children’s experiences. Research shows that face to face time, with family, friends and teachers, plays a more important role in promoting our children’s learning and healthy development. We all have to do our best to make sure our children have a healthy balance of both.