When it Comes to Kids and Tech, Policy Matters
An excerpt from Carrington’s comments at the 3FS community panel, Kids, Teens & Tech: Healthy Habits at Home and Beyond about LCPS Policy 8655 restricting smart-device use from bell-to-bell.
I want to wrap up my comments by calling attention to a particular point as it relates to the technology issue; that is, the connection between policy and culture. It is common when policies come up for consideration for some critics to call for personal accountability. If you don’t want your kids using personal devices at school, don’t give them a cell phone. If you’re a teacher and want stricter practices in place, by all means set the rules for your own classroom.
Why Individual Efforts Aren’t Enough in Shared Environments
Certainly, there is room in this discussion for how we, on an individual level, model healthy tech habits and encourage them in our spheres of influence. But schools also need to take into account collective experience and norms. I can set expectations for technology use with my own kids, but that doesn’t keep them from the distraction of a classmate watching YouTube in class. It can’t protect them from forced isolation at the lunch table when they want to talk and the students around them have their noses buried in their phones. Without collective support, individuals trying to carve out space for healthy tech habits in a group environment face an uphill battle.
How School Policies Support Teachers and Students
Policies are important because they set the tone for a school’s culture. Policies establish norms, set expectations, and send a powerful message about what school leaders value and what they care to protect.
Policies also imply an accountability structure, bolstering those wanting to curb distracting tech use with the weight of administrative and disciplinary support. Teachers’ efforts to reclaim order in the classroom are supported on a systemic level, fostering a united commitment to a robust learning environment.
What This Means for Parents and Healthy Tech Habits at Home
We can use this new LCPS policy to catalyze our own efforts to support kids to embrace healthy technology habits, not only during the school day, but all the time. As important as schools are in our children’s lives, the truth is parents have an even more potent impact on their kids’ beliefs and habits, and good technology integration starts with parents modeling healthy habits ourselves. Tonight is about taking note of our school district taking an important step toward supporting our kids’ well being. It is also an invitation to consider how we as parents can implement healthy tech habits at home so our kids are set up for success in all spheres of life.
Need Support Navigating Technology at Home?
If technology use is becoming a source of stress, conflict, or concern in your family, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our therapists work with parents, children, and teens to build healthy boundaries and stronger connections. Learn more about our family therapy or schedule a consultation to get started.
FAQs
Why are school technology policies important?
School technology policies help establish consistent norms and expectations, reduce classroom distractions, and support a culture focused on learning and well-being rather than constant connectivity.
What is LCPS Policy 8655?
LCPS Policy 8655 restricts student smart-device use from bell to bell, aiming to improve focus, reduce disruptions, and promote healthier social interaction during the school day.
How does excessive screen use affect kids and teens?
Overuse of personal devices can contribute to attention difficulties, anxiety, social withdrawal, sleep disruption, and academic challenges, especially when boundaries are unclear.
How can families support healthy tech habits at home?
Families can support healthy habits by modeling balanced technology use, creating screen-free times and spaces, talking openly about online behavior, and aligning home expectations with school policies