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Setting Healthy Boundaries at Home

Technology is a fixture of modern life, but healthy boundaries help to keep it from becoming overwhelming. HCPSS encourages families to discuss and establish clear family expectations regarding the use of technology and revisiting them throughout the year. Proactively setting up the parameters for using the Chromebook responsibly at home and school helps to lay a strong foundation for your student’s academic success and long-term digital well-being.

  • Location

    Discuss where the student is allowed and not allowed to use technology in the home. Consider establishing a common area where schoolwork can be completed and restricting device usage in their bedroom.

  • Access

    Discuss what devices they are allowed to use at home, including both school system provided and family owned. If your student is assigned a Chromebook and needs assistance with responsible use, consider physically taking devices away for periods of time and/or asking for the school system provided device to be kept at school.

  • Duration

    Discuss how much screen time is appropriate, including time for schoolwork and personal use.

  • Content

    Discuss (1) both technical restrictions that will be implemented using the school system’s Lightspeed Parent Portal and/or using any personal technologies; (2) family expectations around posting of content and consuming content; and (3) digital literacy and having a critical lens when viewing content on the internet.

  • Accountability

    Discuss what tools you will use to monitor their use. Also make sure to have open conversations about what the student should do should they break a rule, feel uncomfortable about something they read/see on the device, or feel they need help following the family’s expectations. Proactively discuss how trust is established, making sure to include what will happen if trust is broken and steps they may need to take to reestablish trust.