PARENT RESOURCES

Digital media plays a major role in the lives of nearly all children and teens. The pace that technology advances can be overwhelming to keep up with. While children and teens move seamlessly between virtual and real worlds, they are often better prepared to handle unexpected situations in the real world then they are in the virtual world. 

It is important that parents and guardians are engaged in their children's online activities to help guide them and prepare them to make responsible decisions online. Keeping an open dialogue with children and having honest discussions about what children encounter or may encounter online will be important as children learn to navigate their online world.

This page contains many resources to help parents, guardians, and families talk about and develop healthy digital habits, positive behaviors, and understand potential consequences.

• Wisconsin Department Of Public Instruction -  The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website includes many resources for parents and Guardians including Internet Safety, Digital Citizenship, recommended guidelines for digital media use, Fact Sheets, and links to many other resources.
• Common Sense Media - Resources for families, parents/guardians, and students. Click on 'Parents Need to Know' for specific topics or to filter by age groups.
• NetSmartz - Resources for families, parents/guardians, and students including videos, fact sheets, and information sorted by topic.
• Wisconsin Department of Justice - Collection of resources for families and parents/guardians including online safety tips, fact sheets, social media safety guidelines, and links to additional resources.
• Interact: Cyber Safety for Parents/Guardians and Children -  A 30-minute online activity for families created by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Department of Justice to help families begin or continue the conversation of Internet Safety at home and talk about managing our digital behaviors.
• Chatting with Kids about Being Online A publication from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (https://www.cisa.gov/) with suggestions and recommendations for talking with children and teens about Internet Safety.
• Social Media Safety Guide for Parents - Blog post from Maryville University, MO.

It is important for children to have a balance of digital activities and unplugged activities in their daily lives. Finding that balance can be a difficult task for families. Here are some resources to help parents and families talk about media balance and determine what is best for everyone at home.

• Healthy Media Habits for Young Children - 5 tips for parents of young children and digital media.
• Help Kids Balance Their Media Lives (K-5) - suggestions for helping elementary students find a balance of media and establish healthy digital behaviors. 
• Help Kids Balance Their Media Lives (6-12) - suggestions for helping secondary students find a balance of media and establish healthy digital behaviors. 
• Family Tech Planner - Entertainment and tech have the potential to spark meaningful conversations. And tech planners are a great way for kids to have a shared understanding of how your family makes the most out of entertainment and tech time. Use these planners to inspire conversations about tech use as a family.

How much 'screen time' children should engage in is frequently a topic of conversation. Screen time includes using phones, tablets, computers, and even watching television. While there is no 'one size fits all' answer, there are general guidelines and recommendations that can help establish healthy digital habits and determine when it is time to take a break. 

• How to Help Kids Balance Phones and Screens with Sleep - Tips for managing TV, tablets, phones, and tech so your kids can get a good night's sleep.
• Help Kids Balance Their Media Lives (K-5) - suggestions for helping elementary students find a balance of media and establish healthy digital behaviors. 
• Help Kids Balance Their Media Lives (6-12) - suggestions for helping secondary students find a balance of media and establish healthy digital behaviors. 
• Be a Role Model: 4 Ways to Balance Screen Time Around Children - Kids learn how to use technology by watching their parents and caregivers, so model healthy habits early.
• Other related articles
  • "To Grow Up Healthy, Children Need To Sit Less and Play More" - World Health Organization, April 24, 2019
  • "At Your Wits' End With A Screen-Obsessed Kid? Read This" - National Public Radio, June 30, 2019
  • "Screen Time and Children: How to Guide Your Child" - Mayo Clinic, June 20, 2019
  • Social Media & Your Child’s Mental Health: What the Research Says - American Academy of Pediatrics, 5/23/2023

Smartphones are basically small computers that can access anything and anyone. Unrestricted access comes with risks that a child may or may not be ready to handle. Readiness is better determined not by a child's age but their level of maturity.

Whatever age a child receives their first smartphone, that is time to start an age appropriate conversation of Internet Safety and Digital Citizenship (online bullying, sexting, digital images, privacy, etc) so that they are prepared to handle unexpected situations and are comfortable talking about it with a parent or guardian. 

Here are some resources to consider when providing your child with a smartphone

• Parents Guide to SmartPhone Safety  - Netsmartz fact sheet highlighting risks and recommendations
• Netsmartz: Smartphones - a guide for parents about smartphones, how to talk about the risks with children and links to additional resources.
• "An Age By Age Guide to Kids and Smartphones"  - experts contribute to this article about student readiness
• "When Should You Get Your Kid A Cell Phone?" - recommendations for when your child is ready for a phone and other concerns to consider.
• Your Child's First Phone: Are They Ready? - Questions to ask and topics to consider as you and your child discuss getting a first phone.
• Cellphones and Devices: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers  - How to help preteens and teens use their phones safely and responsibly.

Nearly all social media sites have a minimum age of 13 due to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) which protects the personal information and images of children under age 13. When children falsify their age to open an account, the protections of COPPA are no longer applicable placing their personal information at risk.

Once the child has reached the age of 13, determining their readiness for social media is not necessarily based on their age but their level of maturity. Most social media sites are not 'kid-friendly' giving the child access to content and topics they may not be emotionally ready to handle.

Here are some resources to consider when discussing social media readiness with your child. 

• Wisconsin Department Of Public Instruction: Social Media - Tips for parents and guardians for children accessing social media
• Wisconsin Department of Justice - Scroll down to find links to safety guides for major social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.)
• Netsmartz: Social Media - recommendations for talking about social media with your children and links to additional resources.
• Social Media Safety for Teens - Fact sheet for teens about using social media and safely and responsibly.
• Parents' Ultimate Guides - Struggling to keep up with the apps, games, and websites your kids are using? Common Sense's Parents' Ultimate Guides can help keep you up to date and answer your questions about all the latest platforms and trends.

  • Parents' Ultimate Guide to TikTok

  • Parents' Ultimate Guide to Snapchat

  • Parents' Ultimate Guide to Minecraft

  • Parents' Ultimate Guide to Roblox

  • Parents' Ultimate Guide to Fortnite

  • Parents' Ultimate Guide to Discord

  • Parents' Ultimate Guide to Instagram