This page includes basic messaging designed for use by school administrators to promote the topic of digital citizenship among students, parents, and the general school community. Included are:
- Morning announcement scripts
- Newsletter inserts
- Social media messages
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Healthy Schools contact at HPEPH.
| Morning Announcement Message | Audience |
|---|---|
| A message from Public Health – Recess is the time to get energized! Leave the phones and technology in your backpack and enjoy some face-to-face time with your friends! Let’s get moving! | Elementary students |
| A message from Public Health – Remember to be a kind and caring friend both in person and online. Our actions both online and in person affect the well-being of others. | Elementary students |
| A message from Public Health – Are you dealing with digital drama? Here’s some tips: (1) Defuse and de-escalate. Take a break and a breath before responding (2) Encourage in-person conversations – this helps to resolve drama more effectively (reference) | Youth |
| A message from Public Health – Your digital habits might be ready for a checkup! Does your phone distract you from studying? Do you check your phone when you’re bored? Reflect on your own digital habits and see if there are any small changes that would benefit your well-being. (reference – Handout) | Youth |
| Newsletter Inserts | Audience |
|---|---|
| Be wise online. Make a family agreement! Does your family have an agreement about appropriate and responsible behaviour when using technology? Research from MediaSmarts’ indicates that kids with household rules about using technology are less likely to engage in risky online behaviour. A family agreement can change and evolve as children grow and technology changes, so it is best to review it as a family a few times a year. Here are some ideas that you may want to include in your family agreement: • I won’t share my passwords with anyone (except my parents or a trusted adult) – not even my best friend. • I will always remember that there are other people on the other side of the screen whose feelings can be hurt by what I say and do. • I will not share anything online that belongs to someone else, without their permission. • If I ever get mad while online, I will let myself cool down before I say or do anything. Check out more ideas at MediaSmarts – Family Online Rules tip sheet | Elementary Parents |
| Four tips for managing your kids’ screen time Caregivers have a role to play in helping kids manage screen time. Here are four important steps you can take to keep screen time under control and help it add value to your kids’ lives. 1. Manage use: Have rules and limits about what, when and how much. 2. Make it meaningful: Choose educational and purposeful content. 3. Model moderation: Have family screen-free times, especially during meals. 4. Monitor screen time: Know what your kids are doing online…and when to be concerned. You an find more info at www.cps.ca. This newsletter content can be supported with a poster available through the Canadian Pediatric Society. | Elementary Parents |
| Live 10-5-2-1-0 Kids need the right balance throughout their day to help them to learn, play, and grow. This includes getting enough sleep, having healthy food and drinks, being physically active, and limiting time in front of screens. 10-5-2-1-0 are daily recommendations for children and youth aged 5-17. 10 hours or more of sleep 5 or more servings of vegetables and fruit 2 hours or less of screen time 1 or more hours of physical activity 0 sugar-sweetened drinks Get tips for what families can do to help kids live 10-5-2-1-0 at www.hpepublichealth.ca/10-5-2-1-0/. | Elementary Parents |
| Social Media Messaging – Elementary | Audience |
|---|---|
| Wondering how you can help your kids manage their screen time? Check out these ideas about how your kids can stay safe, wise and responsible online https://bit.ly/3MbsLX2 | Parents |
| #DYK Over a third of students say that someone has said something mean or cruel to them online? Check out the Parents Guide to Cyberbullying for more information and helpful tips. https://bit.ly/3e7yuRc | Parents |
| Trying to strike a balance between screen time and physical activity? Choose active screen time options with kids to increase their daily activity level – check out these fun ideas! https://bit.ly/3Mdsweq | Parents |
| Live 10-5-2-1-0! Kids need the right balance throughout their day to help them to learn, play and grow. Find out more here: https://hpepublichealth.ca/10-5-2-1-0/ | Parents |
| Role modeling healthy digital habits will help children learn to use technology in positive healthy ways. Your kids are watching you! Here are some tips for families https://bit.ly/3CBrAgA | Parents |
| Social Media Messaging – Secondary | Audience |
|---|---|
| Help! Someone shared a photo of me without my consent! Wondering what you can do? Check out these next steps https://bit.ly/3CzGeEX | Youth |
| DYK you can use social media to benefit your mental health? Check out seven tips from Bounce Back Ontario https://bit.ly/3V0hn4F | Youth |
| Is your digital life getting stressful? Here are 3 ways to adjust your digital habits that can help you feel better and manage your online life in positive ways. https://bit.ly/3Edb2ps | Youth |
| We all have a part to play in making the internet a better place. Here’s how to make sure you’re sharing good information. @mediasmarts https://bit.ly/3V0apMa | Youth |
| Here are some simple things you can do right now to make sure that the “you” people see online is how you want to be seen, https://bit.ly/3AIPSnJ @mediasmarts | Youth |
| Wondering what you can do if you see false info online? You can help #BreaktheFake, especially if it seems like it might be propaganda that could do real harm. https://bit.ly/3Al81aP @mediasmarts | Youth |
| Have you ever stopped to think about how apps use design tricks to hold our attention longer? Watch this to learn more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY13xhNYsJw&t=347s | Youth |
| Social media and technology can impact our mental health. Have you noticed yourself having more negative thoughts while using social media and technology? These can be thinking traps and you can do something about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9aV4mgVya4 , https://digitalthriving.gse.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/THINKING-TRAPS-GLOSSARY.pdf | Youth |
| Do your screen habits need a checkup? [insert graphic – The 5 Core Healthy Screen Habits] | Youth |
| When you’re feeling “meh”. Fill your heart! [insert graphic, page 1] | Youth |
