Assistant Principals' Report

Dear HPS Community,

Testimonial Evolve Digital Safety & Digital Wellbeing

Raising digital natives sometimes really scares me. 

 

I grew up without a mobile phone, without an ipad and without the internet; and now I'm raising two little humans and my job involves helping them to navigate all these things that sometimes I'm not that good at using myself. Then there's the overwhelm of the online dangers for our children and while there is lots of information out there, it often seems like there is too much and I don't know where to start. 

 

Last week I went to the Evolve Digital Safety & Digital Wellbeing night. It was raining, it was cold, it was dark and it was an effort to get out of the house for the 7pm start but it was BRILLIANT! The presenters, Bec & Steve were engaging and the information was practical and meaningful. I now know where to go when I need help (the Beacon App). More importantly I also know where to start with making some small but important changes with technology with my kids (before I know it, they'll be heading to high school and into a digital world that frankly terrifies me). 

 

One simple thing that made me stop & think; my older son is really into Minecraft & Steve suggested that if your child built what they build on Minecraft in the backyard, you would stop and be amazed. By me showing an interest in his Minecraft builds and chatting to him about it, we are now speaking in a positive way about his online time, in contrast to the seemingly endless battles about how much time he's allowed to have. I guess if I managed to show an interest in Thomas the Tank, then Pokemon, Minecraft is not a huge leap and I know the more I show an interest, the more I keep the conversation going and the safer he and his brother will be online. 

 

If/when this presentation comes along again, I cannot recommend more highly that every parent/carer try to attend. 

 

Sarah James, mum of Lachie (Grade 5) and Theo (Grade 3)

Have a great weekend!

Helen Thomas & Monique Rankin

Assistant Principals

Heidelberg Primary School