Read Part 1: Building Digital Well-being Through SEL – Understanding the Landscape
Fostering digital well-being isn’t a separate initiative; it’s a natural extension of the social-emotional learning (SEL) work we’re already doing. When kids apply emotional regulation skills to their online experiences, they gain the tools to navigate their full lives, both online and offline, right now and well into the future.
A Practical Framework: The Zones of Regulation Pathway
One way to support digital regulation is through a structured, skills-based approach like The Zones of Regulation Pathway. This framework is essentially the culmination of the skills taught in The Zones of Regulation® Digital Curriculum, breaking down regulation into manageable steps that learners can apply in real-time situations.
Applying The Zones Pathway to Digital Regulation
Let’s look at how this works in practice through the story of Eva, a 13-year-old middle schooler. Eva just got her first smartphone and is excited to be joining her friends on a social media app, giving her a whole new way to connect with her friends and the broader online community through messages and videos. This makes her feel a lot more connected to her friends, but she’s also finding that if she takes time away, she’s missing out on the conversation.
Step 1: Notice. Eva begins scrolling through shorts on her phone before bed and finds it difficult to fall asleep. She’s tired and unfocused during the day.
Step 2: Check In. With support from her dad, she realizes that she’s been feeling groggy and low. Eva identifies she’s been in the Blue Zone much of the day.
Step 3: Decide. Eva’s goal is to feel “better,” which to her means feeling less tired. Eva and her dad put their heads together to talk through two options:
- Option 1: Keep scrolling before bed to keep up with her friends, in which case she will likely continue feeling down.
- Option 2: Try a new regulation tool by setting an alarm at 9:30, prompting her to put down her phone to wind down before sleeping. She might miss a few messages, but it could help her fall asleep more easily.
Step 4: Regulate. Eva decides to take action and try option 2, using an alarm as a regulation tool, for a week to see how it goes.
Step 5: Reflect. Each morning that week, she and her dad check in to reflect on how her regulation tool is working. He asks how she slept and how she felt at school that day.
Looking Ahead: Future Readiness and Action Steps
Fostering digital well-being prepares kids to manage online life, maintain healthy habits, and build strong relationships. It’s not just about avoiding harm but empowering them to regulate and make responsible decisions in their digital life to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
So, how can you integrate digital well-being for the kids you support? Start with what you already have: advisory time, SEL curriculum, family dinner, routines like check-ins and weekly reflections. These are powerful entry points where you can offer co-regulation and conversation around digital topics.
Ready to dive in deeper? Explore The Zones Pathway within The Zones of Regulation Digital Curriculum.
