Navigating Technology
Navigating Technology
Technology opens incredible opportunities for learning, creativity, and communication, but it also comes with new responsibilities. At Sisters School District, we believe the best technology education happens when schools and families work together to help students become safe, responsible, and confident digital citizens.
This page brings together trusted resources to help families navigate today's digital world. Whether you're looking for guidance on internet safety, cyberbullying, healthy screen habits, social media, artificial intelligence, privacy, or parental controls, these organizations provide practical tools, articles, videos, and activities to support students of all ages. As technology continues to evolve, we'll continue adding new resources to help families stay informed.
Have questions? Please contact Technology for more information or assistance.
Healthy Habits & Online Safety
General resources that help families build healthy, balanced, and responsible technology habits.
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Be Internet Awesome (Google)
Google's interactive program teaches students how to become smart, safe, and confident online. Through games, activities, and family resources, children learn how to protect personal information, recognize scams, think critically, and be responsible digital citizens.
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Common Sense Media
One of the nation's most trusted resources for families, offering age-based reviews of apps, games, movies, books, and websites. You'll also find excellent guidance on digital citizenship, screen time, online safety, artificial intelligence, and helping children develop healthy technology habits.
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ConnectSafely
Offers easy-to-understand safety guides for today's most popular apps, games, and social media platforms. Families will also find current information about AI, online privacy, digital wellbeing, and emerging technology trends affecting children and teens.
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Cyberbullying Research Center
Research-based articles, parent guides, and educational resources focused specifically on cyberbullying, online behavior, and promoting respectful digital interactions among students.
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CyberWise
Designed specifically for parents, CyberWise provides practical advice on raising digitally responsible children. Topics include social media, online privacy, artificial intelligence, gaming, smartphones, and creating healthy family technology habits.
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Digital4Good - #ICANHELP
Digital4Good empowers students, families, and educators to build safer, more positive online communities. The nonprofit offers free resources, training, and practical tools focused on digital citizenship, cyberbullying prevention, online safety, digital wellness, and responsible technology use.
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Fairplay
Fairplay is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children thrive in a healthy digital world. The site offers research, family resources, and advocacy focused on reducing excessive screen time, protecting children's online privacy, and promoting healthier technology habits at home and in school.
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Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI)
Provides research-based resources to help families create safe, balanced, and responsible technology habits. The site includes family agreements, conversation guides, online safety tips, and digital parenting resources.
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Internet Matters
A comprehensive resource helping parents navigate social media, gaming, smartphones, parental controls, online safety, and children's digital wellbeing with age-specific guidance and practical advice.
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KIDS Center - SafetyNet
A free, research-based internet safety program that helps parents, caregivers, educators, and students make smart, safe, and responsible choices online. Topics include cyberbullying, social media, online gaming, scams, digital privacy, and protecting children from online predators.
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NetSmartz (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)
Provides age-appropriate videos, games, and classroom activities that teach children how to recognize online risks, protect personal information, and make safe choices while using technology.
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Screenagers
An outstanding collection of videos, articles, and discussion guides that help families create healthy relationships with technology. Topics include screen time, social media, mental health, gaming, and building positive digital habits together.
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StopBullying.gov
A U.S. government resource providing practical information for parents, students, and educators on preventing, recognizing, and responding to bullying and cyberbullying. The site also offers conversation starters, warning signs, and strategies for supporting children.
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TEDMED - The Anxious Generation
Psychologist and bestselling author Jonathan Haidt explores how smartphones, social media, and changing childhood experiences may be contributing to rising anxiety and mental health challenges among young people. This thought-provoking TEDMED conversation encourages parents, educators, and communities to consider practical ways to support healthier childhood development and digital wellbeing.
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Well Wired
Well Wired provides practical tools and research to help families build healthy relationships with technology. The site encourages intentional screen use, meaningful family conversations, and balanced digital habits that support children's social, emotional, and overall well-being.
Parent Tools & Device Management
Helpful tools for managing devices, setting screen time, staying connected with school, and supporting technology use at home.
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Apple Screen Time
Learn how to manage screen time, content restrictions, communication limits, privacy settings, and parental controls for iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices.
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Google Family Link
A free parental control app that helps families manage Android devices by setting screen time limits, approving apps, locating devices, and encouraging healthy digital habits.
Smartphone Readiness
Resources that help families decide when children are ready for smartphones and explore alternatives that encourage healthy childhood development.
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Dumb Phones for Kids
Explore the benefits and trade-offs of "dumb phones" versus smartphones for children. This guide compares kid-friendly phone options and helps families choose the right level of technology based on a child's age, maturity, communication needs, and digital readiness.
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Wait Until 8th
Wait Until 8th is a national movement that encourages families to delay giving children smartphones until at least the end of 8th grade. The organization provides research, practical resources, and community support to help families reduce social pressure, encourage healthy childhood development, and promote more intentional technology use.
