From the Counselling Team

Navigating Technology and the Digital World
College Counselling Team

Navigating Technology and the Digital World

Many parents struggle to set effective boundaries and rules around technology use within their households. How do parents go about determining the difference between healthy screen time and problematic overuse?

Experts recommend that children and adolescents follow a “Healthy Digital Diet". This refers to not getting rid of all types of computer games or social networking all together but rather not allowing these habits to become excessive and potentially interfering with other just as important activities such as face to face social interaction, sports, hobbies, chores, and family time. The key domains of physical activity, sleep patterns and internet use are all interlinked. Thus, problems in one area can cause problems in another (e.g., increased time spent on gaming can cause a lack of exercise and weight gain and sleep problems). Tacking an established case of problematic internet use will require that the other domains of sleep optimization and the encouragement of exercise be addressed as well and not just the problematic internet use alone.

What parents need to consider is what other activities are displaced by excessive internet use / gaming. One of the biggest common concerns and biggest worry identified is the potential impact on sleep and disturbed sleep patterns if continuing to game well into the evening. A suggested recommendation and guideline is to have a rule where 1 hour before bed any digital screen, exposure to blue light / gaming and devises that are very stimulating stop altogether. This sets up the possibility of a winding down routine that encourages the likelihood that they are getting the necessary required sleep for overall healthy functioning.

Parents need to have the ability to turn the Internet and Wi-Fi on and off. Internet use should never be a right, but a reward based on your child completing other activities that encourage balance in their life. Parents can have an app on their phones that can easily manage to create individual profiles for each member of the family and their devises are connected to this profile, this allows parents to turn the internet access off and on for different children in the family according to their age and behaviour.

Negotiating a schedule and developing a plan with your child or teenager can also be helpful. This means that you devise a daily schedule together that focusses on prioritising sleep, as well as focussing on other important activities like homework, sport, shower and family dinner time. The time that is left over is then what you consider as “free internet use".

A three factor Model has been identified as underlying Problematic Internet Use

Obsession - being obsessed with internet activities. This means that there is a strong desire to be on the internet (online gaming, social media platforms) and a great deal of time is devoted to thinking and fantasizing about being engaged in these behaviours.
Neglect – neglecting non-internet activities. For adolescents this may be demonstrated by less interest in meeting up with friends (in real life), less desire to engage in family time or reduced interest in other activities in their life such as sporting activities or musical interests. This neglect of other activities can also include lack of motivation for schoolwork and potentially experiencing difficulties in keeping up with homework/assessments and study demands putting them at risk of potential academic failure.
Control Disorder – What is observed is an inability to stop using the internet. Difficulties in self-control is one factor that is initially noticed by many parents and causes significant conflict within the family negatively impacting these important relationships.

Some Helpful tips for Parents

Speak with your child after any purchase about what the rules and time limits are over its usage at home. Stick to those rules firmly and be clear about them.
Inform yourself of what capabilities the devise or computer you are purchasing has e.g. can it utilize Wi-Fi, memory capacity, multi-user games.
Be consistent with all children about computer use. This eliminates conflict around issues of fairness and splitting adults over rules.
Where possible encourage computer use to be done in a shared social space.
Consider having a ‘recharge station' in your home where all devices, including adult ones are placed during family activities such as meals to encourage and promote family activities and positive interaction. By doing this you are leading by example and modelling behaviour you want to see in your teenager.
Do not allow unsupervised, unrestricted use of computer, especially late at night before bedtime. Experts suggest all devices be turned off at least one hour before bedtime to promote sleep quality.
Try to openly discuss any concerns / problems at an early stage as entrenched habitual behaviours can be much harder to break down the track.
Some families have a rule of no phone or digital device in the bedrooms. This removes the temptation to check social media accounts and allows for uninterrupted sleep.
Encourage your teenager to be actively engaged in activity that builds emotional and social competence (catching up with mates) as well as some form of sport/ leisure pursuits.
Ask your son to agree on not disabling any parental controls that you have put in place. In addition, he must agree to avoid porn sites and stress that he is never to show this type of material to anyone even if they ask.
Do approach your son's Teacher, Year Co-ordinator, or a member of our Counselling Team in the first instance if you have any concerns. Our Counselling Team can provide guidance and advice on referral to external professionals who are experienced in assisting and intervening in problematic internet use.
Ask yourself “Does my son balance time on the computer with engaging in real life activities and experiences?" If you are concerned then consider this as a red flag that things need action or an intervention of some kind.

College Counselling Team

The College Counselling Team are available to provide confidential emotional and social support and guidance for your son and family throughout the year. For reference our College Counselling Team contact details are shown below.

Mr Rick Russo

Counsellor (Full time Monday to Friday) working with students across all year groups.

Email: rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Direct Phone: 9414 4359

School Mobile (in case of emergency): 0418 438 325

Ms Joe McCarthy

Psychologist (2 days per week: Tuesday and Thursday) working with students across all year groups.

Email: jmccarthy@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Direct Phone: 9414 4322

Mrs Judy Gill

Psychologist (2 days per week: Wednesday and Friday) working with students across all year groups.

Email: jgill@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Direct Phone: 9414 4315

Throughout 2021 the Counselling Team, together with the Learning Support Team, look forward to providing CONFIDENTIAL support to assist your son to build his SELF CONFIDENCE / SELF ESTEEM AND RESILIENCE within a caring, supportive Catholic school community. Please do not hesitate to make contact with any of the above team should the need arise.

Mr Rick Russo - College Counsellor/Chaplaincy Services