As you prepare for a new school year and check items off supply lists, calm nerves, and remind kids of routines, it’s also important to make sure your family is tech ready. To make it easy, here’s a back-to-school tech checklist featuring quick things to do before the year starts.

Back to School Tech Checklist for Parents

Now is a great time to develop or revisit a family media plan, figure out a system to keep school-issued devices charged, and prepare to ask questions about new digital tools your kids are using. Here are some tips and links to past articles I’ve written about healthy technology use, online safety, and how to best support technology use for learning as you get ready to start a new school year.

Establish healthy habits to balance technology use

This year, prioritizing balance tops my back-to-school tech checklist because it’s something each of us is constantly working on as we encourage our kids to do the same. Here are 3 things to remember as you work to achieve digital wellness in your house.

Understand that not all screen time is the same

I like to say there’s productive and passive screen time. Productive screen time includes using digital devices for learning whereas passive screen time involves consuming content or gaming. Since Chromebooks and tablets are a big part of learning, kids at certain grade levels will need to rely on devices to complete assignments. It’s good to understand that not all screen time is the same and make the distinction between productive and passive screen time.

Develop or revise your family media plan with your kids

Discuss screen-free times and make a plan that everyone agrees with. Kids are more likely to put down their devices when they can provide input and feel like they’re heard. My How to Establish Ground Rules About Technology Together  serves as a guide to walk you through the process, whether you’re doing this for the first time or updating your family’s rules about digital devices.

Model the behavior you want to see

After you’ve established technology ground rules, be sure to model the behavior you want to see. Your kids are always watching and will hold you accountable! They’ll absolutely call you out when you try to sneak a look at your phone at dinner! My 10 Tools That will Help You Take Charge of Your Digital Life encourages you to take a look at your own technology use to be in control of your technology so it isn’t controlling you.

Past blog posts I’ve written about digital wellness:

• How to Teach Your Kids to Unplug in Favor of Digital Wellbeing
• How to Talk About Digital Wellbeing with Your Teens
• Talking to Kids About Healthy Technology Use with free resources from the National PTA

Ensure Safety

Staying safe on and offline is important. Even though we may have talked to our kids about digital safety issues before, I included this on my back-to-school tech checklist because now is a great time to revisit the conversation in an age-appropriate way. Here’s what to talk about and how to start the conversation as your kids start a new school year.

Create opportunities for conversations

The Family Dinner Project encourages families to have routine time together because moments of togetherness create opportunities for conversations, even if they’re not around the dinner table or with the entire family. Grabbing a snack together, doing drive-through between after school activities, or even having dessert together can serve as important moments for your kids to talk about the things that matter to them.  

Discuss digital safety

A conversation about being safe online and when using digital devices can happen at any age and is important to have in an age-appropriate way. The conversations you’ll have with teens and tweens differs greatly from the ones you’ll have with preschoolers and toddlers but is just as important. My Important Conversations to Have with Kids About Being Safe in the Digital World features things you should be talking about for kids of different ages and resources to get you started.

Past posts I’ve written about digital safety and mental health:

• A Parent’s Guide to Digital Safety at All Ages
• Giving Your Child Their First Cell Phone? Read This First!
• 3 Ways to Support Teen Technology Use and Mental Health
• 6 Conversations About Digital Safety Every Family Should Be Having

Stay Current to Support Learning

Knowledge is power! I’m adding the importance of staying current to my back-to-school tech checklist because it helps support your kid’s learning. Being informed allows us to better understand how our kids are using technology in class, helps us make good decisions about technology in our homes, and allows us to keep an eye on what our kids and their friends, are doing when they’re online.

Ask questions

It’s ok to not know everything but it’s not ok to resolve yourself to the fact that we can never keep up with technology. Empower yourself by learning about the technology your child is using in school. Start by asking their teacher, the school library media specialist, or their administrator these questions:

• What technology tools will be used for learning this year?
• How will you be using technology to actively engage my child?
• What flexibility do you have to integrate different technology experiences to meet kids where they are?
• What opportunities will be given to ensure my child is heard and can ask questions?
• How will technology integrated into the curriculum so students can actively use it to engage in learning this year?

Understand how AI tools can support learning

 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is constantly evolving and not all of it is detrimental to learning. It’s important to know what AI is, how generative AI works and why it’s unique, and the benefits of drawbacks of it, especially as it relates to learning. According to NewsLit.org, “AI tools also have tremendous upsides” and one of which is the ability to provide each student with personalized learning like Brainly does.

Brainly is the world’s leading AI education platform that’s dedicated to providing every student with free personalized learning, regardless of background or resources. This tool levels the playing field by providing all kids with equitable access to the best on-demand personalized academic help whenever they need it and in a format that works best for them.

Brainly won’t do your kid’s homework or classwork for them, but it can help clarify questions they may get stuck on, prevent writers block by assisting with a brainstorm, and serve as an executive functioning coach for time management. For example, students can put in the date of an upcoming test and the subject and Brainly will devise a study plan to help them review so they’re ready. Brainly helps kids take charge of their learning and I think we can all agree that’s a pretty powerful use of AI, especially if it means we don’t have to nudge, pester, or remind them ourselves.

Talk to other parents

 

The parent grapevine can be a huge source of helpful information but also realize that it’s always important to make decisions based on what you feel is best for your family. Coffee dates with friends, get togethers with other couples, checking in after playdates, and PTA/PTSA meetings can be a great way to get to know other parents and touch base. Chances are you’re not alone! 

Stay informed 

In addition to staying connected to other parents, by reading my blog you’re off to a great start! Other trustworthy sources I read regularly to stay up to date on technology, education, and parenting include:

• Common Sense Media is a longtime favorite of mine. This trusted source presents unbiased and highly educational information on movies, shows, apps, games, and does a fantastic job of keeping parents in the know. I really like this post about
• Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation, Mashable’s site may feature more than you want to know but their daily email newsletter puts hot topics front and center or you can visit their social media and tech
• Wired has been a favorite publication of my software engineer husband since they begin in 1993. Like Mashable, it’s less about tech and parenting and more about how technology shapes culture, economy, and politics. One important thing to note– since March they’ve been partnering with the Freedom of the Press Foundation to provide free access to articles based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. I love their commitment to

Past blog posts I’ve written about using technology to support learning:

• The 3 Best Ways to Use Technology for Learning
• How to Teach Kids About Current Events with The Juice

Wishing you and everyone in your home a wonderful school year!