Managing School Devices
Your One Step this week:
✓ Got a tech device from school? Have your child give you a tour of their device.
When the school issues our children a tablet or a laptop, we have a new device to manage at home, ready or not. How can we proactively teach our children how to use these devices to support their learning while minimizing distractions and conflict?
Start by asking your child to give you a tour of their school device. If you lean in and get curious, you can set parameters in a tech positive way. Even if they've had a school device for years, the start of the school year is a great time to revisit tech use. Check out our guide below.
Questions to ask on a school device tour
What's the password? It's helpful to input your child’s password as a “contact” in your own phone so you always have it handy. Remind your child not to change the password - you should have access to the device.
What apps are on it? School-related apps likely come preloaded on the device along with a catalog of additional/optional apps that a student may choose or be asked by a teacher to download.
How are you using it for classes? Dive into a few apps/platforms and have your child walk you through how they work for a particular class. What are they excited about? Do they have any questions?
Best practices to consider
Turn on Apple "Screen Time." Apple devices have a “Screen Time” tool (under Settings) which should be turned on to track use, establish time limits, and set up an overnight downtime. Occasionally review your child's Screen Time data with them, praising good habits and troubleshooting any issues.
Review and turn off notifications. Teach your child to adjust notifications so they only receive necessary rather than disruptive ones. Go to: Settings > Notifications. Check in after a few weeks to see if adjustments are needed.
Clarify when and where your child can use the device. Best practice is to use the device in a common area rather than in their bedroom, but this isn't always feasible. Start usage in a common area until you feel your child is ready to use it unsupervised. If used in a bedroom, consider a door-open policy. If your child is younger, you can have them ask for permission before using the device.
Set an overnight charging routine. It is recommended to charge the device nightly in a common area outside your child's bedroom so it doesn't disrupt their sleep. Consider turning the device off an hour before bedtime.
Healthy tech use is a SKILL that needs to be taught and practiced
You are your child's coach and mentor at home. Optimizing device use is an ongoing learning process for all of us. Expect some learning pains and course-corrections as you guide your child's path to healthy tech use.
Your One Step recap for this week:
✓ Got a tech device from school? Have your child give you a tour of their device.
It is possible to love and use all kinds of technology but still make radical choices to prevent technology from taking over our lives.
-Andy Crouch, author of The Tech-Wise Family