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The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough

Ten Schools, Three Districts, One Community of Learners

Digital Wellness Home

DIGITAL WELLNESS

OUR WORK

Resources for Families and Our School Community

Technology is an important part of our lives, at school, at home, and in our communities. As technology continues to evolve, we want to help students develop the knowledge, skills, and habits they need to use technology in ways that support their health, well-being, learning, and relationships.

In spring 2026, The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough were invited to partner with the MetroWest Health Foundation Digital Wellness Collaborative on an initiative to promote and enhance digital wellness in our community. This partnership builds upon the District’s ongoing commitment to supporting the health and well-being of students and staff and helping young people develop healthy, balanced, and responsible relationships with technology.

What is digital wellness? The Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital offers a helpful definition:

“Digital Wellness is a positive state of mental, physical, and social-emotional health pursued through intentional, authentic, and balanced engagement with technology and interactive media.”

To support this work, the District has established a Digital Wellness Committee made up of school and community members. The Committee is working together to review the District’s digital wellness practices and efforts, identify areas for growth, and develop resources and strategies to strengthen digital wellness across the schools and community.

Image of a scale to represent digital wellness

 

Monthly Resources

October 2026 – Creating Healthy Technology Routines & Controls

 

Family Resources

  • At school, technology is one of many tools educators use to support learning. Our goal is to use technology purposefully—when it adds value to instruction, provides access, supports creativity or collaboration, or helps students demonstrate their learning.

    Digital wellness also means making thoughtful decisions about when a non-digital experience may be more appropriate. Reading, writing, discussion, hands-on learning, movement, play, and face-to-face collaboration all remain important parts of the school day.

    As a district, we are continuing to examine how technology is used across grade levels and how we can best support healthy, balanced, and age-appropriate experiences for students. Our Digital Wellness Committee will continue to study current research, gather feedback from students, families, and educators, and share resources and recommendations with the school community.

  • Building Healthy Technology Habits Together

    Technology is part of how children learn, create, play, and connect. Digital wellness is not simply about limiting screen time—it is about helping children make healthy, safe, and purposeful choices with technology.

    Start With Curiosity

    Ask your child about the games, apps, videos, and digital tools they use. Let them show you what they enjoy and talk about what can sometimes feel frustrating, distracting, or hard to stop.

    Pause • Ask • Check

    Help children build the habit of thinking before, during, and after using technology:

    Pause — Do I need technology right now?
    Ask — What am I trying to do, and is this the best tool?
    Check — How is this affecting my attention, relationships, safety, or well-being?

    Create Healthy Boundaries

    Talk together about when and where devices fit into your family's day. Consider meals, homework, bedtime, family time, and time with friends. Explain what each boundary is protecting—such as sleep, attention, relationships, or learning.

    Protect Privacy & Practice Kindness

    Talk regularly about what information should remain private and remind children that photos, messages, and posts can travel beyond their intended audience.

    Help children think about how they treat others online and what to do if they experience pressure, exclusion, or unkind behavior.

    Make It Safe to Ask for Help

    Let your child know they can come to you when something online feels uncomfortable or goes wrong—even if they made a mistake.

    Listen first, thank them for telling you, and work together to decide what to do next.

    Make Room for Life Beyond the Screen

    Protect time for sleep, movement, reading, hobbies, outdoor activities, conversation, creativity, and simply being together.

    Children also benefit from moments when they are not constantly entertained. We do not need to fill every pause.

    Model the Habits We Want to See

    Children notice how adults use technology too. Putting phones away during conversations, turning off unnecessary notifications, or creating device-free times can be powerful examples.

    Start small. One conversation, one routine, or one change can help your family build healthier technology habits together.