Growing Up Digital

Research from the Gonski Institute for Education reveals parents perceive digital devices as necessary for their kids’ learning but are worried about the distraction and activities they’re missing out on.

Are you a parent, carer or grandparent of children aged 5 to 17? Do you wonder how digital media and technologies that they live with might affect their wellbeing, health and learning? We invite you to share your views.

Nine out of ten teachers and principals in Australia have seen an increase in the number of students with emotional, social and behavioural challenges compared to just five years ago.

Teachers say most students have lost the ability to focus, are less empathetic and spend less time on physical activity. 

Children are too often turning to Siri for answers to questions and becoming distracted with computer games at a time when the COVID-19 crisis has meant they need to be more immersed in digital learning than ever before.

Leading educators, academics and teachers are sounding the alarm over the impact excessive screen time is having on Australian children's reading, writing and ability to concentrate in school.

The biggest issues confronting parents these days all seem to have one common element: smart devices. 

Schools across the country will come under mounting pressure to ban mobile phones in classrooms, with federal Education Minister Dan Tehan to raise the issue at ­tomorrow’s COAG education council meeting.

From the first term of 2020, mobile phones will be banned in all Victorian government primary and secondary schools to stem cyberbullying and distractions in classrooms.