Managing School Devices
Your One Step:
✓ Got a school-issued iPad or laptop at home? Have your child give you a tour!
Parents are often caught off guard when new school devices are sent home in the first weeks of school! Ready or not, we have a new device to manage! For some families, this can be the first time their child has access to a device and all that comes with it, which can feel overwhelming. It's easy to get frustrated, especially if it's technology that we don't understand or use ourselves. So how can we proactively teach our children how to use these devices to support their learning while minimizing distractions and conflict?
Start with a tour!
Your child, tween or teen may be really excited about having their own device to use, especially if it's their first one! So, in the next week, ask your child to give you a tour of their school device. Even if your child has had a school device for years, the start of the school year is a great time to revisit tech use. There may be an updated device to get used to and we guarantee there are new apps to learn about!
Questions to ask on a school device tour
Your child may surprise you at how tech savvy they are - even if this is a new device to them. Take this as an opportunity for them to show off their skills and knowledge. Let them teach you! You can use these questions to guide your tour:
What's the password?
As the parent/caregiver, you should have access to the school device anytime. Save the password somewhere handy.
What apps are accessible?
School-related apps likely come preloaded on the device along with a catalog of optional apps that a student may later download. Keep an eye out for additional apps that may require proactive conversations - e.g., can your child access YouTube, texting, or social media? Hopefully not. What about internet-based video games, online shopping, or other off-task temptations?*
*Make a note of questions or concerns that come up for you. Any concerns about what's accessible should be directed to the school's tech department or classroom teacher.
How are you using it for classes?
Dive into a few apps/platforms and have your child walk you through how they work for a particular class. What are they excited about? Do they have any questions?
Do you have a school email?
Have your child show you their email account and how they can communicate with their teachers. If they get a lot of spam or unnecessary notifications, teach them how to adjust those.
How do you get your homework assignments and grades?
Is it Canvas, Google Classroom or some other platform? Have them show you so you know they understand how this works. If they don't, encourage them to ask their teachers the next day at school and report back to you!
Then, revisit your family tech rules!
Back-to-school season is a great time to re-commit to your family tech rules and clarify that those rules and intentions also apply to school devices. You absolutely can limit your child's use of the school device to align with your family values. Have an open conversation about how their school device is intended to support school work and make it clear that you don't want them finding counterproductive ways to use it.
Our top recommendations for managing school devices at home:
1. Charge school devices overnight in a common area outside the bedroom. Protect sleep! Plus, this ensures the device is charged and ready to go to school the next morning!
2. Designate a homework space, especially when working on a device. This is essential for proper body alignment and mechanics, especially when typing. It can be really easy to work on a school device on the couch or in bed, but we recommend keeping school work at a table or desk!
3. Set limits and use parental controls as needed. If the school device is an Apple iPad, check out our recommendations here: Managing a School iPad. Clarify any house rules about when, where, and for how long your child can use the device. If allowed in a bedroom, consider a door-open policy. If your child is young, have them ask for a parent's permission before using the device.
School devices can feel hard to manage but there are useful executive function skills that can be practiced when devices are introduced as a learning tool. Navigating assignments and deadlines, taking responsibility for the device, and making sure it's charged and ready to go back to school in the morning are all important life skills! If you lean in and get curious about this school device, you can set parameters for its use in a positive way that aligns with your family's tech values.
Healthy tech use is a SKILL that needs to be taught and practiced
You are your child's coach and mentor at home. Optimizing device use is an ongoing learning process for all of us. Expect some learning pains and course-corrections as you guide your child's path to healthy tech use.
It is possible to love and use all kinds of technology but still make radical choices to prevent technology from taking over our lives.
-Andy Crouch, author of The Tech-Wise Family