Slow Tech Family Toolkit Blanchard Elementary, Acton/Boxborough Public Schools 2020

Slow Tech Family Toolkit
Blanchard Elementary, Acton/Boxborough Public Schools 2020

What is Slow Tech?

Slow Tech doesn’t mean no tech. It means using technology mindfully and with purpose. It’s a
philosophy that bridges conscious living and authenticity together with technology and our
familial value systems. Slow Tech Living is an integration of our tech and our humanness. It
values process, mentorship, intention and allows space for play and joy.

Slow Tech Parenting is about fostering real, personal connections and positive experiences in our
daily rounds both on and away from the screens. It includes education, communication,
awareness and boundaries to enhance the relationship and experiences online for parent,
caregivers and child.

Slow Tech Week Challenges:

  1. Set a family tech curfew each night & see if everyone can stick to it!

  2. Challenge your family to enjoy device free meals.

  3. Make your car rides device free.

  4. Get together with another family for a device free visit.

  5. Make some space for outdoor play – even if it’s cold!

  6. Try a new board game.

  7. Drop Everything and Read A Book!

  8. Drop Everything and (Video) Game! Let your child teach you a (mobile, PC
     or console) game they love.

  9. Wake up to an alarm clock and enjoy some time in the morning device free.

  10. Listen to a podcast for the whole family.

  11. FaceTime a family member or friend who you’ve been meaning to connect
     with.

  12. Find a YouTube channel that interests everyone and see what you can learn
     together.

  13. Create a family mission statement on what it means to be “Tech Healthy”.

  14. Get some rest! Take a nap, go to bed early, lounge around, enjoy some
     space that may otherwise be filled with screen time.

  15. Play with picture apps, filters and editing tools to make your photos fun,
     silly or fancier than before.

Janell Burley Hofmann’s Resources & References:

Here you’ll find 40 links to articles, videos, websites, research,
books and podcasts that I recommend or use to inform my
work. Additionally, there are many people and resources here
who have shaped my parenting, value building and world view. I
hope you spend some time engaging with these materials and
deepen your practice and intention to raise tech healthy families
together.

Enjoy!

Janell

1. Janell’s website & newsletter:
www.janellburleyhofmann.com.
2. iRules Book - https://www.amazon.com/iRules-Tech-Healthy-
Selfies-Sexting-Growing/dp/1623363527

3. Free Contract Builder - www.iRules.co.

4. YouTube Kids - http://www.wired.com/2015/02/youtube-
kids/.
5. OurPact - http://ourpact.com/.

6. Safer Internet Day – http://saferinternetday.us/.

7. Tiffany Shlain - Technology Shabbat -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdMUhBPRjY
8. Character Day - http://www.letitripple.org/character_day.

9. David Ryan Polgar Mental Obesity -
http://www.davidpolgar.com/#!mental-obesity/c1on1.
10. Steven Covey -
https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php.
11. Lenore Skenazy, Let Grow, and her book Free Range Kids
http://www.freerangekids.com/.
12. Carl Hooker – http://hookedoninnovation.com/.

13. Girls Leadership Institute - http://girlsleadership.org/.

14. Mike Ribble – Digital Citizenship’s 9 Elements -
http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html.
15. Dr. David Greenfield - http://virtual-addiction.com/.

16. Kerry Gallagher – http://www.kerryhawk02.com/.

17. Alexandar Samuel Research –
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/11/why-
parents-shouldnt-feel- technology-shame/414163/.
18. Common Sense Media –
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ &
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/videos/introduccion-a-
common-sense-latino.
19. Family Online Safety Institute – https://www.fosi.org/.
20. The Digital Citizenship Institute – http://digcitinstitute.com/.

21. Cyber Civics – http://www.cybercivics.com/.

22. Calmer Choice – http://www.calmerchoice.org/.

23. The Tech Rabbi – http://thetechrabbi.com/.
24. Connect Safely - https://www.connectsafely.org/.
25. Rachel Simmons - https://www.rachelsimmons.com/

26. Screenagers Tech Talk Tuesday Newsletter -
https://www.screenagersmovie.com/tech-talk-tuesdays/.
27. Devorah Heitner – Screenwise & Raising Digital Natives -
https://www.raisingdigitalnatives.com/.

28. Dr. Shefali - https://drshefali.com/about-dr-shefali/.

29. Jocelyn Brewer & Digital Nutrition -
http://www.jocelynbrewer.com/.
30. Susan Stiffelman - https://susanstiffelman.com/.

31. Manoush Zomorodi – Bored & Brilliant -
http://www.manoushz.com/.
32. Sherry Turkle - http://www.mit.edu/~sturkle/.
33. I Can Help Line - https://www.icanhelpdeletenegativity.org/.

34. Calm Classroom - https://calmclassroom.com/.
35. Bulldog Solutions - https://bulldogsolutioninc.com/.

36. Happily Family - https://www.happilyfamily.com/.
37 . Digital Citizenship Institute -
http://www.digcitinstitute.com/.
38.Empantallados - https://empantallados.com/
39. How To Choose Apps For Your Child -
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/smarter-
living/educational-apps-
kids.html?fbclid=IwAR26dz2LTyxBXg9TP1IhYQF13gpsyTJVQVEt4
LJKHNqVFMKPMlkf516JKpo

40. Bergen County Heads of School Joint State on Device Usage -
https://vimeo.com/357822539.

Where Are They & What
     Are They Doing?
                     Vlogging                 Textin
          e                                         g
  ou Tub         m               What's App
 Y             ra
         Instag         ng    Snapc
                                   hat      Shopping
                    am i
       Tik Tok Str
                   e
                                         Finsta/Trinsta
    xBox
                                                VSCO
          ing

                 Entertainment
       Gam
   ine
Onl

            Gaming         @JanellBH   Social
                                        Tech
 Research

                                                    Pictures

                   Creative
          Tech EDU
  Collaborating
                     Tech                       Making
                                              Cont
            Learning                        g     ent
                                         din
                Research    Homework   Co    Reading

Where Do We Begin? Common Sense Media, App Store Product Description,
Connect Safely, Family Online Safety Institute, New Online Resource (to share)

   1. Who made the app?
   2. What is the age rating?
   3. Are there ads in the game/app?
   4. Is it educational? If so, are those claims backed by research?
   5. Does the app cost? Are there in-app purchases?
   6. How does this app protect your child’s privacy? Is it COPPA compliant?
   7. Is it a match for your child? Will they enjoy it? Is it unique?
   8. Is it something you can play together?
   9. Have you applied your judgment/values to the app?
   10. Can the child play/chat with others?

Prompts adapted from this article: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/smarter-
living/educational-apps-kids.html