In my role as the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Coordinator at the College, I frequently come across emails and advertisements urging the dissemination of information to parents and guardians within our community. One piece, particularly caught my attention – an article from Linewize in Western Australia. As both an educator and a parent, the content resonated with me deeply.

Navigating the task of instilling healthier technology habits in our children during extended breaks, such as the Christmas school holiday period, poses a significant challenge. Linewize has encapsulated this challenge and provided six invaluable points that serve as pillars of support in this critical arena. 

1. Create tech agreements - Creating a family tech agreement before buying a tech gift is essential, and you should involve your children to instil responsibility for their digital habits. Whether you’re establishing a new agreement or reviewing an existing one, it's crucial for all family members, including parents, to uphold and model good tech habits.

2. Update parental controls - Before the holidays, verify that parental controls on your children's devices, consoles, apps, and games remain current amid frequent updates and potential changes by developers.

3. Read the fine print - Parents/guardians often overlook the lengthy terms and conditions of new online games or apps installed by their children, intending to revisit them later. However, safeguarding your child's data privacy is just as crucial as promoting healthy tech habits. To ensure their safety, it is essential to thoroughly read and understand these conditions.

4. Access, not ownership - If you have younger children, begin their online device experience with supervised access, gradually transitioning to full ownership. Teach responsible digital citizenship and ensure they can demonstrate online safety understanding and behaviours before granting them full ownership.

6. Consume content together - Share digital experiences during the holidays by dedicating specific times for your child to guide you through their favourite apps or games, enhancing your understanding and fostering casual conversations. Alternatively, engage as a family in playing online games together.
7. Tech timeout - During the holiday season, maintain balance by dedicating daily blocks of time to tech-free activities with your family. Capitalise on the morning energy peak to engage in activities like reading, learning, exercising, setting a positive example for your child.

Wishing all families a very happy and Holy Christmas.

Mrs Theresa Moore

Acting Pastoral Care & Wellbeing Coordinator