Island School and PTA in collaboration with ESF Center, hosted a two-part series of Parent Information Coffee Sessions on Digital Divide and supporting parents in informed digital devices usage. The sessions were led by Jason Prohaska, Head of Technology at ESF Center. The first session was held in November, followed by the second session on Feb 6, Friday. Island School Principal Ms Nina Gunson reiterated how digital devices and social media usage was a ‘partnership’ between parents and school. She shared the work of the school within the Thrive program and across the school safe systems in place, for ensuring safe and monitored usage of devices for school assignments.
Jason talked about both the positives and the harms of digital and social media usage that parents need to be aware of, to ensure children’s interactions are meaningful, controlled and informed. From a positive side of things, some apps and platforms provide the 4Cs: Create, Communicate, Collaborate and Computational thinking which help children build skills and enhance learning. However, this only stands true when the apps have been verified and critically assessed. Jason emphasised the importance of ‘critically assessing’ apps to read reviews and consult platforms like ‘Common Sense Media’ to evaluate the credibility and effectiveness of these Apps. Some apps like Roblox were highlighted as causing more harm than good with the data privacy issues and ratings for children’s development. Others like Minecraft when critically assessed provide components of the 4Cs. However, it is important to critically assess these platforms and apps that children are using.
Some of the dangers of using social media were highlighted. Some evidence-based examples and videos were shared on how Facebook’s algorithms are set to increase consumption and dangers of excessive Instagram usage for girls’ mental health. Both genders have been proven to be susceptible to mental health and high risk behaviours with excessive social media exposure. Jason stressed on the importance for parents to be aware of these risks and to uncover ‘what is underneath the hood’. He stressed on the importance of having open discussions with your children around their usage and not give children administrative control over their devices so that all apps and downloads can be under parental supervision.
Jason, empowered parents on how to manage effective digital media use with the awareness of its harms and benefits. The essence that he mentioned were 1) the human connections and 2) relationships with children. Reflecting on his own parenting experiences, Jason suggested keeping healthy boundaries, open channels of communication and providing safe space to communicate. Some other practical tips suggested were:
- Safe internet usage and family boundaries
- Device management
- Family agreements for digital device and media usage
- Model healthy behaviour: parents need to model usage of devices (moderate usage, set boundaries)
- Opportunities for unstructured play: provide opportunities for children to play outdoors and unstructured play with friends (playdates with peers that takes them away from devices)
- Household habits: boundaries for device usage at home as a family.
We are very thankful to ESF Center and Mr Jason Prohaska for empowering Island School parents on this topic that is an important aspect of current parenting. You can find the photos from the event HERE. We are also thankful to parents who attended these sessions. Jason, has very kindly shared resources with our parent community for digital device controls and agreements. We hope you will find these useful.
Please scan the QR code.
