Digitech

Dear parents and caregivers,

I am writing to you today to inform you about an opportunity for you and the family to participate in an upcoming eSmart Schools Online Storytime session. The sessions are designed for families with students from Foundation – Year 4.

The special Family Storytime event will be held on Wednesday 17 September 2025. 

eSmart Schools Family Storytime

Synopsis:

'How Poppy became an Internet Superhero'. Written by Despina Polatidis. Illustrated by Dotti Li. Join Poppy and her wonderbot, Astra on a high-tech adventure to outsmart the Hacker! As they race through the digital world, Poppy learns the Five Rules of Internet Superheroes — from guarding personal info to spotting online tricks. Packed with action, humour, and essential online safety tips, this story makes cybersecurity fun. Suitable for children from 4 – 9 years of age. 

👉 Register for Family Storytime

Family Tech Agreements: Setting Healthy Digital Boundaries

In today’s digital world, technology plays a significant role in our children's lives. From smartphones and tablets to gaming consoles and computers, screens are an integral part of their learning and entertainment. To help foster a balanced and safe approach to technology use at home, creating a Family Tech Agreement can be a valuable tool.

What is a Family Tech Agreement?

A Family Tech Agreement is a set of guidelines that families create together to establish healthy boundaries around device use. It ensures that children develop good digital habits, understand online safety, and maintain a balanced lifestyle that includes offline activities.

Why Create a Family Tech Agreement?

• Encourages Healthy Habits: Helps children manage screen time and balance technology with other activities.

• Builds Digital Intelligence: Guides children in making responsible and informed choices online.

• Supports Online Safety: Creates awareness about privacy, cyberbullying, and appropriate online behaviour.

• Reduces Tech Conflicts: Provides clear expectations, making it easier to manage screen time without arguments.

   

How to Get Started

Start the Conversation: Sit down as a family and discuss what responsible technology use looks like in your home.

 Tailor It to Your Child’s Age:

• Under 5s: 
  • At this stage, children are learning about rules. Use fun and simple ways to introduce online safety and device guidelines.
• Ages 5-8: 
  • As children start using devices more independently, setting clear rules will help them develop strong digital habits for later years.
• For Ages 9-10:
  • Screen Time Limits: Set clear boundaries on daily screen time to balance online activities with physical play, homework, and family interactions.​
  • Content Guidelines: Discuss and agree upon appropriate websites, games, and apps. Utilize parental controls to block or filter unsuitable content
  • Online Etiquette: Teach respectful communication and the importance of not sharing personal information online.​
  • Device-Free Zones: Establish areas in the home, such as the dining room and bedrooms, where device use is not permitted to encourage face-to-face interactions and healthy sleep habits.​

For Ages 11-12:

• Critical Thinking: Encourage questioning the credibility of online information and understanding the potential for misinformation.​
• Cyberbullying Awareness: Discuss the impact of cyberbullying, how to recognize it, and the importance of reporting any incidents.​
• Time Management: Help them develop strategies to prioritize responsibilities over screen time, preparing them for increased academic demands.​

Regularly reviewing and adjusting the Family Technology Agreement ensures it remains relevant as your child matures and technology evolves. Open communication is key to fostering a safe and balanced digital environment.

Print & Display: Once you’ve created your agreement, print it out and place it somewhere visible as a reminder of your family’s tech rules.

For more information and helpful templates to get started, visit:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources/family-tech-agreement

https://www.esafekids.com.au/post/family-technology-plan

Digital Technology Leading Teacher