The digital world is an integral part of our children’s lives, offering boundless opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection. Yet, it also presents uncharted challenges—from managing screen time to navigating social media and online safety. At La Fontana International Schools, we believe the answer is not to shield children from technology, but to equip them with the wisdom and skills to navigate it successfully. Our ICT & Digital Safety Policy provides the school-side framework, but this is a journey we must undertake in partnership with parents.

Shifting from Time to Quality
The conversation often starts with “How much screen time is too much?” While limits are important, the focus should increasingly be on the quality of that time. An hour spent on a coding platform, creating digital art, or researching a school project is fundamentally different from an hour of passive, endless scrolling. We encourage families to engage with their children about what they are doing online. Ask questions: “What did you build in that game?” “Can you show me that cool video you made?” This shifts the dynamic from policing to partnering and helps children become intentional users of technology.

Creating Sacred Tech-Free Spaces
In a constantly connected world, disconnection is a vital skill. Establishing tech-free zones and times helps protect crucial aspects of family life and personal well-being. Consider making meal times, family game nights, and the bedroom (especially the hour before sleep) screen-free sanctuaries. The blue light from screens can disrupt the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, so removing devices from the bedroom overnight is one of the most effective ways to guarantee the restorative sleep essential for learning.

The Heart of the Matter: Teaching Digital Citizenship
At La Fontana, digital literacy is about more than just using software; it’s about becoming a responsible digital citizen. We integrate lessons on online etiquette, privacy, and critical thinking into our curriculum. We teach students that a digital footprint is permanent, that kindness is as important online as it is in the playground, and that they must be critical consumers of online information. We empower them to be “upstanders,” not bystanders, if they witness cyberbullying, and we provide clear channels for them to report any concerns, in line with our Anti-Bullying Policy.

The Parent as the Prime Role Model
Perhaps the most powerful teaching tool is our own behaviour. Children are keen observers. When we consciously put our own phones away during conversations, when we prioritise face-to-face interaction, and when we model a balanced approach to our own digital lives, we send a more powerful message than any rule ever could.

This digital landscape is our children’s future. By working together—school and home—we can ensure they traverse it not with fear, but with confidence, resilience, and integrity.