Digital Citizenship - now more important than ever (repost from April)

Through parent coffee mornings, we have regularly shared information and resources about social media and balanced use and how parents can support from home, all of which can be found here on the Parent LibGuide. Now, more than ever, we are all aware of the importance of being a good digital citizen. With increased screentime at home, challenges related to balance and appropriate use are more prevalent. As a parent, you have the opportunity to support at home and even ‘manage’ the child’s iPad. Please read below for some practical suggestions and solutions: 

MAKE SPACE FOR LEARNING
Your child will work best in a quiet, comfortable space that they helped design away from other distractions and in a public area of the house. Keep in mind that students will be in this space for many hours each day.

• Regularly check in on their progress and their focus. Position them somewhere where you can check their screen regularly as you walk by. If you’re suspicious of ‘multi-tasking’, a quick check can be done of the browser history and other tabs/windows open on the device.

AVOID MULTITASKING/DISTRACTIONS
Monitor your children’s social media use, especially in a distance learning setting. Make sure that time spent on social media apps such as TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp is monitored/restricted to help students focus on school work.

• Consider limiting your children’s cell phones use so that schoolwork receives their undivided attention.  
• On the iPad, try using ‘Guided Access’ to focus your child on one specific task or activity at a time. This is a simple video explaining what it is and how it works.
• If you want more control of the child’s iPad then try using the Screen Time feature in ‘Settings’ (full, detailed instructions) to manage Downtime, App Limits, and Content & Privacy with all of the limitations that you want for your child.

DIGITAL RECESS
Make sure that your children take plenty of breaks in order to get physical activity and plan off-screen activities for the whole family. 

• Set alarms for ‘recess’ and other breaks similar to those at school
• Encourage students to get up, get some fresh air, go for a walk or bike ride, or have a snack.

References
‘COVID-19 and At-Home Learning’. Children and Screens, https://www.childrenandscreens.com/media/press-releases/covid-19-and-at-home-learning/. Accessed 22 Apr. 2020.

PARENT’S GUIDE TO DISTANCE LEARNING | ACS International Schools. https://www.acs-schools.com/parents-guide-distance-learning. Accessed 22 Apr. 2020.

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Image citation: Photo by Emma Matthews Digital Content Production on Unsplash