Teaching Digital Literacy: How Parents Can Teach Responsible Tech Use

Just last year, Ontario’s former Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, announced new cellphone restrictions in schools, calling them the toughest policy in Canada. The message is clear: kids are more distracted by digital devices than ever.

Under the new rules:

• Kindergarten to Grade 6: Phones must be silent and out of sight unless permitted by an educator.
• Grades 7 to 12: Phones are banned during class unless directed by a teacher. 

If you want more details, check the original announcement out on the official Ontario newsroom page. 

Additionally, schools will enforce social media bans across all networks and devices. The reasoning is pretty obvious. Mobile devices are a major distraction for students. These changes at the school-level represent a newfound concern with how pervasive technology has become with every new generation’s lifestyles. It’s no wonder Generation Alpha is known as the “iPad generation.” In this environment, teaching digital literacy is no longer optional. Kids don’t just need limits on screen time — they need the skills to think critically, engage safely, and use technology responsibly.

Technology is part of every aspect of our lives — education, entertainment, even healthcare. Preventing your child from using devices entirely isn’t just unrealistic; it’s outright counterproductive. Instead, the key is teaching digital literacy to kids so they can think critically and engage responsibly with digital content. 

When faced with growing concerns about technology’s impact on kids, it’s tempting to think the best solution is to just put a ban on devices with your kids. But research suggests that extreme restrictions often backfire, leading to even greater issues down the line. 

A 2017 study published in Pediatrics found that children who faced highly restrictive screen time rules at home were more likely to engage in secretive device use and developed lower self-regulation skills compared to children whose parents taught active mediation — that is, guiding their children to understand and manage their tech use themselves. 

Similarly, a 2020 report from Common Sense Media revealed that strict screen bans can limit children’s opportunities to learn vital digital skills, like how to evaluate online information and interacting safely on social media, which are increasingly essential for school, future jobs, and everyday life.  

Even now, I can remember how I’d find myself playing Pokémon on my new DS under the blankets, listen for footsteps to my room and pretend to be asleep as fast as I could. All that, just because I wasn’t allowed to play until Friday. 

All that’s to say, instead of trying to eliminate technology from your child’s life, a better approach might be teaching digital literacy at home, so they learn to use it thoughtfully.

Consider:

• Making Technology a Shared Activity: Spend time co-viewing shows, playing games together, or exploring educational apps. Co-viewing isn’t just watching together. Ask open-ended questions as you go. As with everything, children develop stronger critical thinking skills when digital activities become shared, active experiences.
• Involving Them in Boundary Setting: Rather than imposing rigid rules, create family agreements around screen time and device-free zones (e.g. mealtimes and before bed). Involving kids in the conversation around boundary-setting helps them internalize the “why” behind limits.
• Teaching Digital Citizenship: This skill is not just about fact-checking. Take the time to talk about online privacy, recognizing misinformation, respectful online behaviour, and the importance of building a positive digital footprint. 

Digital literacy is the ability to analyze, interact with, and create media responsibly. It’s a crucial skill in today’s world, just like reading and math. At its core, digital literacy empowers children to:

Understand media’s purpose—Is it meant to inform, entertain, or persuade?
Identify bias and perspective—Recognizing that all media is created with a specific viewpoint.
Evaluate credibility—Distinguishing between reliable sources and misleading information.
Interpret messages—Understanding deeper meanings, themes, and intent.
Create responsible media—Expressing themselves ethically and thoughtfully online.

With these skills, kids become active thinkers rather than passive consumers of content.

So, how can parents encourage strong media literacy skills at home? Here are some practical strategies:

1. Ask Critical Questions
   • Encourage your child to question what they see and hear. Whether it’s a video, news article, or social media post, ask:
     • Who created this, and why?
     • What message are they trying to send?
     • Is this information backed by evidence?
   • It’s important to train young adults to be able to analyze content rather than accept it at face value.
2. Teach Fact-Checking
   • Show your child how to verify information with reliable sources. Teach them to cross-check news articles and question anything that seems exaggerated or misleading.
3. Discuss Bias & Perspective
   • Help your child recognize that media often reflects the biases of its creators. Encourage them to explore multiple viewpoints before forming an opinion.
4. Model Responsible Use
   • Kids learn best by watching their parents. Demonstrate media literacy by:
     • Fact-checking information before sharing it
     • Discussing news critically
     • Engaging in respectful online conversations
   • By setting an example, you reinforce the importance of media awareness in your household.

While media literacy is essential, so is moderating technology use to maintain a healthy balance. Setting clear screen time boundaries, such as creating “tech-free” zones during meals or before bedtime, helps children separate online and offline activities. Encouraging safe online behavior is just as important—teaching kids about privacy risks, cyberbullying, and responsible social media use ensures they navigate digital spaces wisely. Make sure they know they can always come to you if they encounter something troubling online. Additionally, promoting non-digital activities, like reading, outdoor play, and creative projects, helps prevent over-reliance on screens for entertainment. By integrating these strategies, parents can create a balanced approach that allows children to benefit from technology while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Media literacy and critical thinking go hand in hand. By helping your child build strong critical thinking skills, you’re setting them up to become more thoughtful consumers and creators of media.

Here’s how you can encourage critical thinking at home: 

• Problem-solving activities: Introduce puzzles, strategy games, or real-world challenges that require your child to think critically and come up with solutions. These activities can be both fun and educational.
• Engage in discussions: Ask open-ended questions about current events or what your child is learning in school. Encourage them to express their opinions and back them up with evidence. This helps them practice reasoning and developing arguments.
• Analyze media together: Watch the news or read an article with your child, and then discuss it. Ask them what they think about the story and whether they noticed any bias or gaps in the reporting.

There are plenty of tools available to help parents guide their children’s media use and develop media literacy skills:

1. Educational apps: Apps like Newsela and Common Sense Media provide age-appropriate news and educational content, while also teaching media literacy and critical thinking skills.
2. Parental control tools: Consider using parental control apps to help monitor your child’s screen time and filter inappropriate content. These tools can help you maintain a healthy balance without needing to constantly oversee their every move online.
3. Games are great too: Video games on consoles, computers, or mobile devices can be fun, safe, and educational. They’re not mutually exclusive! If your kid loves games, check out our blog post explaining the benefits of gaming for some recommendations on age-appropriate games we love. 

Technology isn’t going anywhere, and in fact, it will only continue to grow as an integral part of our daily lives. Rather than trying to limit your child’s exposure to it, focus on teaching them how to use it responsibly and thoughtfully. By instilling strong media literacy skills and encouraging critical thinking, you can help your child navigate the digital world with confidence and make technology a positive force in their life.

As parents, your role in guiding your child’s relationship with technology is more important than ever. By teaching digital literacy and fostering an environment of curiosity, critical thinking, and open dialogue, you can help your child thrive in a world full of information, ensuring they’re prepared for whatever comes next.