How to Incorporate Digital Wellness in Schools

From the home to the classroom and into the workplace, our children live in a connected world that relies on technology for learning, creating, and playing — which is why it's so important to instill healthy online habits early on. 

Digital wellness is the ability to interact with digital devices mindfully, practice online safety, and prioritize physical, social, and emotional health in digital environments. 

We know that technology can enhance life and education when used appropriately. However, we also know it can cause damage when used in unhealthy ways. Teaching young people digital wellness is key to helping them succeed and thrive in their digital worlds, which they can only do by learning to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy technology use.

Here are five ways teachers can teach digital wellness in their classroom community and instill in their students the importance of developing healthy habits when using technology.

1) Have transparent conversations about digital wellness

Today's students are considered digital natives, growing up in a time when technology is part of their daily lives. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean they instinctively understand how to use all of these tools productively.

In the classroom, teachers will find that kids learn digital skills quickly but that without additional support, those functional skills can soon become digital distractions. Schools can provide those resources by prioritizing digital wellness with open, transparent conversations about the importance of self-management and responsible decision-making.

• Prompt self-reflection through strategic questions:
• Has anyone noticed a difference in their sleep when they use devices before bed?
• How do you feel after using specific apps or websites?
• Do you feel different when using technology for school and personal use?

Depending on the grade levels you teach, consider introducing them to mental health problems that can arise from bad habits like internet addiction or social comparison.  Ask them how their time using devices makes them feel and why. 

Perhaps most importantly, recognize that many of your students are likely already aware of how often they use digital tools. In fact, one study found that 54% of teens say they spend too much time on their cell phones. 

Rather than simply lecturing or enforcing limits on tech in the classroom without explanation, asking open-ended questions can be a good way to encourage dialogue and get students thinking about their relationship with technology.

2) Communicate positively 

Children today grow up in the digital age, where their online and offline lives are seamlessly blended. While it's important to discuss the negative impacts of extended screen time on sleep, focus, and mood, there's a reason that technology is prevalent in schools, work, and personal life: it's useful! 

With that in mind, it's important that when speaking to students about digital wellness, educators embrace a positive perspective. Language is incredibly important — teachers know this better than anyone — so how the conversation around healthy technology use is framed will impact how responsive students will be. 

Rather than focusing only on "shouldn'ts" and "restrictions," approach discussions with the intention of empowering them to lead a healthy digital life.

Talk about the benefits of using technology in productive ways and spending time offline. Discuss the issue not just from the perspective of less screen time but also more positive online experiences.

Ask students to reflect on what feels good about using tech. Consider questions such as: 

• What draws them into their devices and apps? 
• What makes them want to keep playing a game or browsing a feed? 
• What makes them want to stop?
• What feels good about spending time offline?
• What do they like to do in their everyday lives that doesn't involve technology?

Another option is combining SEL curriculum with a tool like Linewize Courses. These gamified learning modules promote digital wellness across six pillars:

1. Mental health & wellbeing
2. Privacy & information safety
3. Respectful relationships
4. Human rights & compassion
5. Digital media literacy
6. Digital footprint & online personas

These courses were designed by specialist teachers, learning designers, and clinical psychologists to support critical thinking, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and positive behaviors. Because they're self-paced and student-centered, the content is tailored to each learner's interests, needs, and abilities.

3) Encourage offline activities

Teachers are well-positioned to take a proactive approach to helping students get involved with offline activities because the classroom provides many opportunities to "practice" digital wellness and self-control. 

For example, during class, you may enact device-free periods — spans of time where you have students set their cell phones to "do not disturb" for an individual study period or small group activity. 

This may be a good opportunity for discussion afterward, to reflect on how they felt while their phones were silenced and how moderating their virtual presence can influence their mental health. 

For younger learners, consider having your class participate in mindful breathing exercises, stretching, or light yoga as a group after using digital technology for an activity. These practices support social-emotional learning and help students regain their focus for the learning ahead.

On the flip side, common sense education about the healthy use of technology should be realistic rather than overly restrictive. Consider setting a 5-10 minute timer for "device breaks," during which students can check their phones and use social media until the timer is up. You may alternate between device and wellness breaks throughout the day to transition between activities.

4) Challenge students to cut back on screen time

Reducing screen time is always a healthy goal, as many children are already spending far more time using screens than the experts recommend. 

Challenge your students to track their hours of screen time during a week and be mindful of how much time they spend engaging with digital media. You may institute a classroom competition or prizes for students who decrease their average weekly screen time by a certain amount. (You may even join them in this to make it more relatable!) 

Consider implementing an app challenge where students refrain from using their favorite personal use app for a whole week. This can be a good prompt for a discussion or journaling exercise afterward.

Additionally, it's important for you to set a good example for healthy boundary-setting regarding technology use. Model healthy technology habits and set goals and expectations for academic performance that don't lead students toward unhealthy technology use.

5) Get parents involved in promoting digital wellness

As an educator, you play a unique and meaningful role in working alongside parents to guide their children into adulthood. Digital wellness extends far beyond the classroom, and parent involvement is key to helping students build a lasting, healthy approach to technology use. 

Here are two ways to get parents involved in your wellbeing efforts:

Provide parental resources on wellbeing

Send home informational guides for parents around setting limits for online activities, recommendations for popular apps their kids use, encouraging offline activities, and using parental controls on devices. Help educate parents about the impact of extended screen time, the importance of digital wellness, and the benefits of balancing online with offline time.

Encourage healthy screen time at home

Ask parents to support their children in a goal to cut back on screen time or to co-lead a "device-free dinner" challenge for one week at home. If your school uses digital monitoring tools for student threat detection, send information home to parents about how these tools work, the benefits, and how they keep their children safe.