Digital technology and safety for families will be the topic when Liberty Elementary hosts a parent engagement talk this month.

Supported through national PTA, the Ready, Tech, Go program is made possible through an AT&T-sponsored grant with the aim to help parents and guardians become more familiar with tools and resources to determine screen readiness and digital life at home.

The hour-long event will begin at 6 p.m., March 13 and the Murray community is invited, stresses Principal Shana Mondragon.

“The information provided is important for all parents in our community,” she said. “We want the entire community to benefit from the information.”

Mondragon plans to follow the main points provided from the grant’s materials to empower families with tools, research and support around digital parenting; provide an overview of current research about kids’ tech habits; discuss ways to promote healthy and responsible device use for the entire family; explore meaning of screen readiness and provide valuable resources to promote a safe and healthy digital home.

The program will include a phone-ready quiz, tips and tools for building belonging in digital spaces and discussion time. 

PTA President Courtney Hammer learned about the grant through a national newsletter.

“I thought it would be a good program for us to do,” she said. “On the application, I told them this would be great for our White Ribbon Week, and we could use this in our community.”

As a mother with two young children, she hopes the material will help her with decision-making.

“They’re always wanting to take my phone, so I’m wanting to hear about when a good time is to decide your kids are ready and mature enough to have their own phone and how to teach them how to make smart choices. I think that’s valuable for our community so we’re happy to be able to share it.”

Hammer said she has seen students as young as 7 and 8 years old with phones or watches. While many may have the devices to stay in touch with their parents, she said it still can be a scary idea to give one to a child.

“When you think about any smartphone that opens up that internet world to kids, I ask myself, ‘am I really ready to give my kid access to the internet and allow the internet access to my kid?’ I know it can be a valuable tool of information, but it still can be really scary for me so I’m hoping this presentation will help,” she said.

Hammer said there will be free swag bags for the first 100 people in attendance.

The presentation will tie into the school’s White Ribbon Week, which will highlight students’ commitment to digital safety. 

“We’ll have daily activities, worksheets, discussion in the classroom,” she said. “We’ll also have our Classic Skate night as we want them to have time off their devices too and they can go spend time and skate with their families.” λ