Family Resources

Help Kids Balance Their Media Lives

From phones and tablets to streaming movies and YouTube, tech and media are everywhere. Kids love easy access to TV shows, games, and information. Parents and caregivers love that kids can stay in contact while they explore their independence. But it's easy to overdo it when the phone never stops pinging and the next episode plays automatically. Families can keep media and tech use in check by following a few simple practices.

Check out these 5 tips:

1. Create screen-free times and zones: Help tweens and teens take breaks from tech by limiting screen time in bedrooms, during study time, or at the dinner table. Consider carving out regular family time when screens are either put away or enjoyed together.
2. Explore built-in digital well-being tools: Together with your kids, check out the features on their devices and in their apps that canhelp them use tech more intentionally. Consider turning off autoplay functions, limiting notifications from certain apps, using settings that turn off devices at a certain time each night, and more.
3. Model the behavior you want to see.: Tweens and teens learn more from watching adult behavior than listening to lectures. Consider how you use your devices and other media, and make changes if your use doesn't follow your expectations for your kids.
4. Help kids identify healthy behaviors: Ask kids to notice their feelings, both physical and emotional, during screen and non-screen activities. Does their heart rate increase when their phone vibrates? Does their self-esteem dip after viewing a friend's Instagram feed? Do they feel good when they get positive feedback on a post? Encourage kids to keep the constructive activities and let go of the rest.
5. Understand how tech companies make money: Along with your tween and teen, research how digital devices, social media platforms, and apps and games get paid. Do they sell ads? Do they sell kids' data? Discuss why companies might want kids to spend more time on their platforms and what tricks they use to keep their attention.

Grades 6-12 Family Tips: Media Balance and Well-Being brought to you by Commonense.org

Parental Controls on Your Student's iPad

With Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time, you can block or limit specific apps and features on your child's device. And restrict the settings on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch for explicit content, purchases and downloads, and privacy. Learn more about Parental Controls from Apple. 

Common Sense Media is an excellent resource for learning about technology in education  

• Learning With Technology
• Special Needs Students
• Early Childhood Education

Additional Resources

The Federal Trade Commission has some great information on how to talk to your kids about technology

Create a Technology Plan guided by the American Academy of Pediatrics

Create a Plan

Together, families can address how to have a healthy relationship with technology and positive Internet usage. Student iPads are an opportunity for the entire family to participate in digital learning experiences.

It is important to create a plan with your student when, where, why, and how he/she can access the iPad. Set up a charging station in a common area of the home or in the parent or guardian’s bedroom to monitor use of technology when at home. 

• Know your student’s passcodes and passwords
• Limit screen time for entertainment usage
• Discuss appropriate use of social media and review his/her iPad regularly

Talk With Your Student

Having conversations with your student about how he/she is using technology in the classroom will not only help you better understand today’s learning environment, but also provide you with an opportunity to engage with your learner.

Chances are, your student is excited to share how technology is being used and wants to showcase what he/she is learning. Likewise, he/she may have some concerns about how technology is being used in the classroom, which is also important information for parents to know. 

These conversations give your student an opportunity to “be the teacher” and share what they know with you.

WiFi Options

You can find free WiFi in public spaces such as libraries, coffee shops and more. Map of public WiFi locations. You can search by Zip Code or Marathon County and it will show you all reported free WiFi locations.

Internet Service Providers in the Wausau Region

Please check with each provider to find out if they have coverage based on your address.

• AT&T Internet Service or 800- 288-2020
• Cellcom Internet Service or 800-236-0055
• Frontier Communications Internet Service or 844-964-2084
• Spectrum Internet Service or 866-874-2389
• Verizon Internet Service or 800-837-4966
• TDS Internet Service or 855-259-8577 

Satellite Intranet/Rural Coverage

• Cirrinity Internet Services or 715-253-2111 (Wittenberg office)
• Hughes Net Internet Service or 855-951-3741
• Network Professionals Internet Service or 715-241-0200
• Starlink Internet Services
• Viasat Internet Service or 855-982-2093