By Faith Colson
When I was a kid, we went to the computer lab once a week or only used computers for specific projects. Nowadays, our students often carry an internet-enabled school device all day long. We parents have a lot of responsibility in setting boundaries and teaching our children about online safety and tech use, but what happens if reasonable restrictions are not enforced at school?
My children’s pediatrician asks me each year if I am limiting screen time to two hours per day, but no one is asking schools this. Screens present the same concerns for eye health whether used inside a school or at home. Virtual learning can negatively impact mental health, but schools may use screens for a huge percentage of the school day. If screen-based learning has equal or lower academic outcomes, and if screens present attention span problems, why are schools relying on digital formats more and more? It seems as though policymakers see the label “educational” and assume that all of these known risks dissipate.
Here are some suggestions for how you can help to mitigate the health concerns for your children and their use of screens at school:
- Talk to your child’s medical or mental health professionals
See if they have recommendations or are willing to write a letter to help approach this topic with the school. Though the health risks are relevant for all children, it may be difficult to receive written support from a doctor unless your child already has a diagnosis that could pertain to screen use (ie, migraines, ADHD).
If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, you could request accommodations such as taking tests on paper or paper alternatives to screen-based assignments.
- Talk to your child’s teacher and/or to campus or district administrators
Share your health concerns and ask if there are reasonable time limits that can be put in place to protect eye health, maintain attention spans, and promote positive social skills for all students. Keep in mind that schools may face state requirements, such as online standardized testing or learning standards related to technology.
Despite these potential mandates, there may be practical steps that your school or district can take. Are there frequent breaks from screen time and daily opportunities to go outside or get physical activity? What limitations are in place for homework to prevent blue light exposure before bedtime? Are ergonomics adequately addressed?
- Talk to your state legislators
The well-known song, “I’m Just a Bill” from Schoolhouse Rock reminds us that laws can start with a regular person suggesting an idea for how to make things better. As “just a mom,” I reached out to a state lawmaker on this topic. I followed in the footsteps of parent advocate Cindy Eckard, who used her Screens and Kids blog and social media to successfully advocate for the first legislation in Maryland and then Virginia to establish reasonable safeguards. I was able to bring similar changes to Texas by working with a lawmaker here.
If districts are requiring more tech time because of state requirements, then states need to communicate what safeguards to implement to ensure that our children are benefiting from technology, and not accidentally being harmed by it.
Ed tech companies continue to tout the benefits of their online programs without acknowledging any risks. Their job may be to make money, but as parents, our job is to nurture our children. Let’s make our voices heard and ask for reasonable safeguards! Technology may be here to stay, but schools need to use it judiciously to supplement instruction and not to replace teachers.
For more ideas on how to moderate media and screen usage, as well as educating kids on how to keep themselves safe online, try out our books Noah’s New Phone: A Story About Using Technology for Good and Conversations with My Kids: 30 Essential Family Discussions for the Digital Age.
Faith Colson is a parent advocate who has worked with legislators on education policy in multiple states, including Texas, where she now resides with her husband and three school-age children.
Citations:
Eckard, C. Screens and Kids [@Screensandkids]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/screensandkids
Kardaras, N. Follow the money: Screens and the educational industrial complex. Glow Kids. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2016.
Miller, C. (2022, March 22). UNC-Chapel Hill and Winston Family Foundation Launch National Center to study effects of Technology, social media on child brain development. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. https://uncnews.unc.edu/2022/03/22/unc-chapel-hill-and-winston-family-foundation-launch-national-center-to-study-effects-of-technology-social-media-on-child-brain-development/
Strauss, V. (2021, November 29). Perspective | covid-19 brought new technology into elementary school. it’s time to remove it. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/11/29/remove-technology-from-elementary-school/
