Safe and Healthy Digital Technology Use

‘Screen time’ refers to time spent with any screen, including smart phones, tablets, television, video games, white board, computers or wearable technology.
‘Digital media’ refers to content transmitted over the Internet or computer networks on all devices, unless particular ones are specified.

Digital technology and media are integrated into our everyday lives. We can learn to be conscious of our screen time choices. Educators can learn more about making informed decisions about screen time, fostering a balanced and health-conscious learning environment. By promoting active engagement, reducing sedentary time, and providing tools for self-regulation, we can equip students for success both in and out of the classroom. Excessive screen time for school-age children can have several physical, mental, and social impacts.

Recommendations for Screens and Digital Media

Daily Physical Activity in the classroom toolkit | Western University
Digital media: Promoting healthy screen use in school-aged children and adolescents | Canadian Paediatric Society
Sedentary Time Recommendations for Schools - Recommendations and Implementation Steps | PHE Canada

Teaching Resources

Digital Citizenship Resources for Educators from HPPH is a collection of ice breakers, lesson plans and resources aimed at grade 4-6 students.
Lesson Plans from Common Sense Media cover a wide variety of topics including artificial intelligence technology, online safety, and digital citizenship.
Lesson Plans on digital literacy from Media Smarts. Use, Understand and Engage Digital Media Framework and teaching plans by grade.
Online Child Sexual Exploitation teaching resources from Government of Canada.
Digital Citizen Day is in October. Use the resources to highlight to students what they can do to be a good digital citizen.
Media Literacy Week is also in October. Find teaching plans, posters and resources from Media Smarts for a school wide campaign.

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