Screentime has changed the way we learn, teach, and Parent.
I am a teacher, a parent, and an optimist.
I believe technology, like any other tool, is best used in a specific time and place. I know what it can allow us to do. And I see how easily it can take over.
There is no question: both parents and teachers play an important role in modeling and mentoring when it comes to screentime. As a teacher and a parent, I have empathy.
I understand that schools feel pressure to offer 1:1 programs, but do not always recognize the impact this can have on students and families.
I understand that withholding a smartphone from your preteen can feel like a losing battle.
I understand why teachers turn to programs to simplify their intense workloads.
I value the idea of assuming we are starting with best intentions, and replacing judgment with curiosity. Parenting is hard enough already.
One parent described the challenge to me as "trying to hold back a tsunami with sandbags."
There is no "one-size-fits-all" answer, but we have to start the conversation somewhere.