What is the purpose Family Tech Time?

This interactive tool is intended to support conversations in our families and our community around how to use technology to build healthy relationships rather than disrupt them. Thoughtful and intentional use of technology that considers the whole human (heart, mind, spirit, and body) can connect us and expand our knowledge and abilities. However, navigating technology can be confusing or overwhelming for families and become a source of conflict.

This tool helps families work together to connect their technology use with their family values and develop a flexible plan that works for them. The goal is to empower all members of a family to support each other and be intentional in their technology use. It is never too early or too late to begin this conversation within your family.

Our intended audience is teenagers/young adults and their families, support systems or whomever they define as family.

Who created Family Tech Time?

This document was created by community for community. Partners include: School District 35 (Langley), Fraser Health, Inclusion Langley Society, Encompass Support Services Society, Langley Community Services Society, Langley Children Committee, and the Langley Literacy Network.

There will be further community opportunities to discuss the role of technology in our families and community, as well as access to other resources.

What resources were used to create this tool?

BC Ministry of Education. (2020). Core competencies. Retrieved from https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/competencies.

BC Ministry of Education. (2019). Physical and health education. Retrieved from https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/curriculum.gov.bc.ca/files/curriculum/physical-health-education/en_physical-health-education_10_elab.pdf.

Canadian Paediatric Society. (2019). Digital media: Promoting healthy screen use in school-aged children and adolescents. Retrieved from https://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/digital-media.

Who created Family Tech Time?

This tool is meant to start and support family conversations that consider the whole human: Heart, Mind, Spirit, and Body. Questions based on recent research round healthy relationships with screens (Canadian Paediatric Society, 2019) have been created for these four sections. Each family will find different sections relevant at different times, and it is recommended that the tool be used as a regular touchstone to inform family plans or intentions around technology. Parents and caregivers, please remain curious and reflective about your own technology assumptions and use. We are all learning together.