Parent Resources
Parent Resources: Helping Students Thrive in a Digital World
The Clarkstown Central School District is dedicated to partnering with parents to create a safe and enriching digital environment for students. To support this collaboration, CCSD teachers integrate lessons on safe technology use into the K-12 curriculum, equipping students with essential skills to navigate the online world responsibly. To further assist families, the District has curated resources for parents and digital safety tools to promote digital wellness and encourage open communication between parents and children regarding the safe and responsible use of technology. Through this partnership, the District empowers students with essential life skills while equipping parents with the resources they need to foster digital wellness at home.
The following list of curated resources for parents provide practical, age-appropriate strategies and advice for talking with your child about safe and responsible technology use.
- Boston Children's Digital Wellness Lab Family Digital Wellness Guide
This research-based guide of online resources provides practical, age-appropriate strategies for parents to promote healthy digital habits in their children. Recognizing that digital wellness is an ongoing journey, the guide offers evidence-based insights into the benefits and risks of digital media use, along with practical strategies for supporting children's mental and physical health. It addresses various developmental stages from preschool to adolescence, empowering families to navigate the complexities of technology while fostering a balanced approach to screen time.
- American Academy of Pediatrics Family Media Plan
Creating a Family Media Plan can help you and your children set media priorities that matter most to your family. Since media habits are different for every household, the Family Media Plan can be customized to meet your family's needs. Make a full plan, or just choose a few parts that matter the most to your family.
- Harvard University's Center for Digital Thriving
Harvard University's Digital Thriving initiative emphasizes the importance of having nuanced conversations about our digital lives, provides resources to foster a more balanced and intentional approach to technology, and facilitates better conversations between educators, parents, and children about technology use.
Parental Control Software
Parental control software is an important tool for safeguarding children in today's digital age, providing parents with the ability to monitor, manage, and guide their kids' online activities. By offering features such as content filtering, screen time limits, and app monitoring, these tools help create a safe and balanced digital environment while fostering responsible technology use. The Clarkstown Central School District shares these resources for informational purposes and does not endorse or recommend the purchase of specific parent control software.
Security & Privacy Settings for Common Social Media Apps
Safety and privacy settings are crucial for protecting teens aged 13 to 18 on platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, as they help mitigate risks associated with cyberbullying, online predators, and exposure to inappropriate content. These settings allow teens to control who can view their posts, interact with them, and send direct messages, fostering a more secure and positive online experience. By enabling features such as content moderation, location privacy, and time limits, parents and teens can work together to promote digital responsibility while safeguarding personal information and mental well-being.
Connect Safely
ConnectSafely.org is a trusted resource designed to help parents, educators, and caregivers navigate the complexities of raising children in the digital age. The site offers expert-reviewed guides, practical tips, and comprehensive insights on topics such as online safety, privacy settings, and responsible technology use. With its focus on empowering families to make informed decisions, ConnectSafely.org provides tools and resources to help create a safer, healthier online environment for children and teens.
Red Light/Blue Light Awareness
Red and blue light play distinct roles in influencing circadian rhythms, which are the body's natural 24-hour cycles governing sleep, wakefulness, and various physiological processes. Blue Light Regulates Wakefulness: Prolonged exposure to blue light at night (from screens or artificial lighting) can delay sleep onset and shift the circadian clock, leading to issues like insomnia and sleep phase disorders. Red Light Promotes Restfulness: Red light exposure in the evening may help facilitate relaxation and sleep by preserving natural melatonin levels. To adjust the red and blue light on an iPhone, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Night Shift To adjust the red and blue light on an Android phone, go to your phone's Settings > Display > Night Light
Research on Blue Light Effects
Harvard Medical School: Blue light has a dark side
National Library of Medicine: The influence of blue light on sleep, performance and wellbeing in young adults: A systematic review