Technically Trying

 Google recently released access to their AI tools for all ages and its as if none of them have kids of their own! Releasing a powerful tool like that for all age users inside an educational setting is another way for students to find content they don't need to see or learn behaviors they don't need to learn. I'm not against AI. I use it constantly. I am always looking up things that I don't quite know, or using the conversational style researching to figure out problems I am working through with my job. Sometimes its nice to type in a query that is going through my head in one fashion and asking it to word it more clearly for another search I need to make. AI is a great tool in my toolbelt and I can see how it becomes an every day habit. However, our kids brains aren't developed! Their pre-frontal cortex hasn't finished growing and introducing them to a tool as powerful as AI that can speak back to you in a conversational manner can cause some serious problems!...

 Welcome back to another school year! A new school year brings a lot of new plans, new ideas, new habits, and new rituals. Make sure to include safe technology use with those new habits by creating a family friendly technology schedule or set of habits that everyone can follow. Ease into the Day * Don't allow television, ipads, kindles, or cell phones before you leave for school. Instead, allow your child to eat breakfast, get dressed, and have a small amount of quiet play time or reading time to ease into the day. This helps regulate their system to keep them calm and prepare their mind for the work ahead. Mimic the behavior you want to see * If you require no tech for your child, try to do the same for yourself. Yes we all have emails that need to be answered, texts that come through for last minute spirit days, or the random phone call before 7am asking for a ride. But be open about your use "I'm sorry, I just got a text and I need to make sure its not from school, hold...