Episode 4: Setting Tech Boundaries at Home
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“There is no filter or monitoring tool that can replace parent involvement. Conversations are what keep kids safe.”
How do families strike the right balance between giving kids access to technology and keeping them safe online?
In this episode of Navigating the Digital Playground, Sarah O’Donnell is joined by Dr. Brian Casey, Director of Technology for the Stevens Point Area Public School District, to talk through what healthy tech boundaries really look like at home.
Together, they explore how students are growing up in a digital world, the safeguards built into school-issued Chromebooks, and why no filter or monitoring tool can ever replace parent involvement. Dr. Casey shares practical insights on device monitoring, screen time, digital citizenship, and the importance of ongoing conversations with kids about online safety, privacy, and risk.
This episode is especially helpful for families navigating phones, social media, gaming platforms, and emerging concerns like online exploitation and sextortion, with a focus on education, trust, and partnership rather than fear.
Topics include:
- How school-issued Chromebooks are filtered and monitored
- What parents can (and can’t) rely on technology to do
- Why conversations matter more than blocking everything
- Tools and options families can explore at home
- Helping students know when and how to ask for help
This conversation is designed to support families with real-world guidance as we work together to help students use technology in healthy, safe, and responsible ways.
🎧 Listen Now
🎥 YouTube: https://youtu.be/_QOcFFap6GE
📻 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5xL7upxxthh8h5F7MmaI3D?si=HJl-QAw6Rbq_jEQUzxHKrQ
📃 Transcript
Resources
- Common Sense Media: Reviews, parent guides, and conversation starters about apps, games, and screen time
- American Academy of Pediatrics - Family Media Plan: Practical guidance for creating balanced media habits by age.
- CDC - Youth Mental Health Resources: High-level, research-based context around wellbeing and screen use
- HealthyChildren.org: Clear, parent-friendly articles on technology, sleep, and development.
Families with questions or concerns are encouraged to reach out to their school or the district for support.