Digital Resources for Families

In Fairfax County, we have a committee that reviews applications. They post the approved applications on our Digital Ecosystem Library .

Many parents worry about the amount of time their children are spending on devices. Time is one consideration, and the content and features of media they’re using are important, too. The steps below will help families discover high-quality media. They will also help parents learn what to look for and discuss with their children before using a new app, game, or service.

Step 1: Make a list of the games, apps, or media your children want to use.

Step 2: Use reviews to learn about the game, app, or media. The following two sites provide information about what is in a game, app, movie, or online service. 

• Common Sense Media Reviews help parents find age-appropriate apps, games, movies, music, and TV shows. They also provide information parents need to know.
• Parents' Ultimate Guides help parents understand the apps and websites their children might be using.
• Entertainment Software Ratings Board Reviews provide a rating and what is in the game or app.
• Terms of Service: Didn't Read has bullet points of Terms of Service (TOS). The full TOS and privacy policy can contain age restrictions and should be skimmed.

Step 3: Consider the following questions to help you make a decision

• Can your child communicate with people they don’t know while using the app, game, or service?
• Is the app, game, media, or service age-appropriate and is there questionable content?
• Does the tool or service use location services?
• Can your child buy additional features, also known as in-app purchases?
• Can they publish text, photos, or videos publicly or is there live streaming?
• What information is collected about your child and who can they share it with?
• Who owns the content your child posts or shares?
• Does the app, game, media, or service reflect your family’s values?

Step 4:Decide if your child has the maturity and self-regulation skills to use it in a safe, responsible, and ethical manner?

Step 5:Establish expectations and consequences. Tell your child about any parental controls you plan to use. Be consistent about expectations and consequences.

FCPS content filters are applied to all FCPS devices. Parents and families who would like to limit access to individual websites at home should consult with their internet service providers to learn about content filter features on their home/personal networks. 

A Digital Citizenship team has compiled a collection of links to media reviews, parental controls, and other information to introduce a new device for your child. 

The websites below can be used to learn more about the parental controls offered by the products and services used by your family:

• Comcast / Xfinity
• Cox Communications Parental Controls
• Verizon Smart Family
• Verizon Home Router Parental Controls
• Amazon Kids+
• Apple Families (Macs, iPhones, iPads)
• Google's Family Link - FCPS G Suite accounts can be added to Family Link, however, FCPS cannot provide support for Family Link. For more information, go to the Google Support Site .
• Microsoft Family Group (Windows, Xbox Games and Android Phones)
• Gaming Systems Parental Controls (PlayStation, Nintendo)

Customizable Device Contract for Families When your child reaches that important milestone where they get their own personal or school issued computing device, an important step is to talk with your child about expectations for use in your home. Use the suggested guidelines to help make sure that you and your child are on the same page and use the customizable form to outline your agreed-upon expectations.

Family Media Agreement: K-5 When your child begins to use the Internet, it is important to have a conversation about when and how they use it and what they use it for. This Family Media Agreement is one tool you can use to support this conversation.

This  FCPS PDF contains advice on how to find a media balance, which can be helpful when writing a device contract with your child.

Spanish

• Device Contract (Spanish)
• Family Media Agreement K-5 (Spanish)

Parenting in a Digital Age - Video

Selecting Quality Content for Your Family - Video

Social Media Basics for Parents - Video

How Parents Can Address Social Media Challenges - Video

• Cartoon Network: Stop Bullying. Speak Up videos
• Talk to Your Kids advice  from the Feteral Trade Commission
• Kids and Socializing Online advice  from the Feteral Trade Commission
• Cyber.org Cyber Safety video  series
• Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online pamphlet
• Google created an interactive game to learn Digital Citizenship: Be Internet Awesome