Chances are you wouldn’t feel comfortable giving your toddler a chainsaw for playtime, or handing over the car keys to your tween. Technology and digital media are powerful tools. And just as we wouldn’t hand a child a power tool without first teaching them how to use it, we should teach our kids how to use their devices in a positive, purposeful way that supports their physical, mental, and social-emotional health. To help you do this, we’ve created The 5 M’s of Digital Wellness.
Model: Set a good example by behaving the way you want your child to, both online and off.
Mentor: Teach your child to use technology and digital media purposefully and responsibly.
Monitor: Develop ongoing shared media use agreements with your child, actively observe their behaviors, and enforce agreements consistently.
Mastery: Empower your child to achieve agency and independence by helping them make healthy choices and recover from mistakes.
Meaning: Encourage your child to develop a relationship with technology and digital media that is authentic, intentional, and balanced.
Available in English and Spanish, the 5 M’s of Digital Wellness can be applied from the moment a child picks up their first device, and it’s never too late to start!
All our best,
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