Digital agreements for home

At school we write a digital agreement so that students understand what technology is to be used for and how it is to be used. 

The parenting place recommend writing digital agreements for home as well, to help children understand the role of technology in their lives and to set a family culture that talks about what a family believes technology is for and how it can best be used to help us.

Here are some ideas to get you going:

Set a family meeting time to brainstorm what technology you have in the house. 

Talk about all the times you use technology and ways it helps but also perhaps doesn't help family relationships and the running of the household.

Come up with a list of boundaries that you already have in place for keeping yourselves safe and healthy. Adults be prepared to be challenged as well! Kids model what we do!

Plan a "technology free" family day:  Have a chat at the end of the day, what was the biggest challenge? 

Discuss digital privileges that the children hope to have one day.  What are they looking forward to and how will you all know when they are ready for that privilege?

Talk about managing screen time, how much is too much? When do you know? Take the screen addiction test as a family and see how you stack up! 

For more information check out the digiparenting's article on setting digital boundaries or contact Rachel Thorpe at rachelt@kaurilands.school.nz.