Back when you were a kid, screen time may have meant Saturday morning cartoons or a round of Mario Kart at a friend’s house. These days, digital technology is woven into almost every aspect of learning – from interactive whiteboards and reading apps to cloud-based assignments and even how they collaborate with classmates. For parents and caregivers, it can be tricky to know how much is too much, what’s helpful for learning and how to set healthy screen time boundaries. These expert tips will help you manage your child’s tech use to support their education and create better habits.

Two primary school students sitting on the floor of a classroom, engaging with tablets, surrounded by bookshelves and educational materials.

How to Choose the Right Digital Technology for Kids

It often feels like digital technology is moving faster than parents can keep up. When you’re thinking about updating your kids’ tech, whether that’s a laptop, tablet, phone or smartwatch, Dr Tiffani Apps, an associate investigator at research centre Digital Child and senior lecturer at the University of Wollongong’s School of Education, recommends focusing on what the tech is for to make your choice.

“Rather than thinking, ‘What is the latest digital technology?’, think about the purpose of having the technology. What are you hoping to achieve? What will your child use it for? Then make your purchasing decisions based on that,” she says. 

Many schools require students to bring their own tech for learning, and will often request specific device requirements and software teachers are likely to use. Chatting with your child’s school during transition periods can be particularly helpful, especially when your child is moving from primary to high school. “I always encourage parents to talk to schools. Teachers are quite open to that dialogue,” Dr Apps says.

While the tech requirements for each school vary by school and age group, as a guideline:

  • Tablets are good for younger primary school students, as they’re easy to use, portable and often lower cost.
  • Laptops are usually the preferred choice for high-schoolers.
  • 2-in-1 devices are a touchscreen laptop that can be converted for use as a tablet – these can be a good choice if note-taking is important.

If your tech is not compatible with the newest software updates, a tech upgrade will likely be required to ensure the device is as secure as possible. Older laptops, for example, might not be compatible with Windows 11. Since Microsoft has ended software and security support for Windows 10 as of 14 October 2025, upgrading your software or transitioning to a Windows 11 device will become increasingly essential for security and performance updates as well as exciting next-gen features to support learning and productivity.‍

Two adults sitting on a couch with two children, engaging with digital devices including tablets and a laptop, with a plant visible in the foreground.

Manage Data and their Digital Footprint

Your child’s digital footprint isn’t just about posting or chatting on social media – it’s also part of how they learn online. From submitting assignments to joining class forums, the way they act digitally now can shape their future. It’s important to talk to them about creating a positive digital footprint and the consequences of commenting or sharing something online that may upset others.

Lynn Gribble, an associate professor at UNSW Business School with a special interest in AI teaching and learning and digital innovation practices, recommends having open conversations about digital technology and its potential long-term impacts. “Children and young people often don't have the experience to understand what their digital footprint might mean down the path. As adults, our role is to ensure that we’re setting them up for something that is yet to be imagined.” Here are her tips for parents to help your child manage their digital footprint:

  • Show your child how to check privacy settings on school apps and other apps they use, particularly social media apps. 
  • Remind them to think before posting.
  • Get them to Google their own name – and yours – to see what’s visible. 
  • Keep an eye on your child’s online activity. “If you set up their tech so you can see their messages, it’s not an invasion of privacy – it’s about keeping them safe,” she says, explaining that it can also give you an opportunity to continue the dialogue about responsible online behaviour. 
  • Model responsible digital behaviour and habits. This helps to reinforce these messages – because, as many parents can attest, what you do often carries more weight than what you say. 
  • Participate in shared online activities with your child. “If your child wants to make a video, do it together. Instead of posting it online, set up a group chat and send it to just those people in the chat. Be curious and be interested and wonder about things together.” Online puzzles, educational games and watching your child’s favourite content creator videos together helps you stay connected and on their tech level.

SEE ALSO: Shaping Future Careers: How to Prepare Your Kids Now

A primary-school-aged child sitting at a desk with a tablet displaying an educational app, holding a pencil and writing in a notebook, surrounded by colourful stationery in a bright classroom.

Discover How AI Can Support Learning

AI is already in schools and classrooms – it’s embedded in the software and operating systems we use everyday like Windows 11, powering STEM platforms like Scratch, and driving maths and language learning platforms. In the future, AI could give kids personalised feedback and support teachers in tailoring lessons to each child’s needs, says the CSIRO. 

However, Dr Apps says research into AI’s educational influence is still very new. “Some of the work we’re doing is looking at the impacts of AI on learning processes of children and young people, but it takes time. We don’t have a lot of research about it yet.” 

Professor Gribble agrees, and suggests talking to your child about how they want to learn and create, and teach them when it’s appropriate to use platforms like ChatGPT to boost their learning and what needs to come from their own brain and imagination. 

SEE ALSO: The Benefits of an AI Laptop for Work, Study and Play

Two children sitting on grass outdoors, looking at a tablet, with a blurred background featuring stairs and a seated person.

Build Healthy Screen Time Habits

With video games and streaming platforms competing for attention, not to mention the day-to-day demands of schooling, managing screen time is tricky for lots of families. So as not to take time away from physical activity, Australian Government guidelines recommend no more than two hours of screen time each day, not including screen time for school work. 

To support your child’s learning, Dr Apps recommends a balanced approach to screen time that emphasises quality over quantity. “It's about quality interactions as digital technology can be quite pleasurable. Young people experience great pleasure from things like gaming and families often will game together – it can be a great intergenerational activity. Find the activities that your children enjoy and look to create a balance.”

Dr Apps suggests parents “get really purposeful around how you want to use digital technology in your family and set boundaries that are clear and well-communicated”. Importantly, these rules don’t need to be rigid. “Be open to revising them,” she says.

Rather than focusing only on time limits, Dr Apps encourages parents to consider how digital technology can complement learning. “Technologies are really interwoven into our lives, and it's a bit of a distraction focusing only on time, because it distracts us from thinking about the quality experiences that we want.”

What to Try

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