Week 6 — Modeling Responsible Tech Habits

Learning objectives

Recognise that teens learn tech habits primarily by watching the adults around them.
Identify the specific behaviours each family member wants to model — and to stop modelling.
Build a simple ongoing practice so this course’s lessons don’t fade in three months.

Core concepts

Research on family media habits keeps reaching the same conclusion: parents’ own behaviour shapes children’s relationship with technology more than any rule. If a parent is on their phone at dinner, “no phones at dinner” won’t hold. If a parent never says “I don’t know — let me check,” teens won’t either. This week flips the lens. Parents commit publicly to changes too.

Discussion prompts

Parent: what tech habit do you have that you’d be embarrassed for your teen to copy exactly? Teen: same question back.
When was the last time each of you saw the other put down a device to be fully present? How did it feel?
What does it look like, in this house, to use AI well? Give three concrete examples you’ve already lived in the past six weeks.
What do you want your family’s relationship with technology to look like in five years? Work backwards: what would you each need to do this month for that to be on track?
What did each of you learn from the other during this course that you didn’t expect?

At-home activity: “The mirror commitment + monthly check-in”

Part A — Mirror commitments. Each person writes down three specific behaviours they’ll change, framed as things the other person will be able to see. Examples: - “I’ll leave my phone in the kitchen during dinner.” - “I’ll say out loud when I’m using AI to write something.” - “I’ll ask before posting a photo of you.” - “I won’t use my AI companion app on school nights.”

Exchange lists. Put them on the fridge.

Part B — Schedule the check-in. Put a recurring 30-minute family check-in on the calendar — monthly is realistic. Three questions each time: 1. What did AI help us with this month? 2. What did AI cost us this month? 3. Does our household agreement still fit, or does it need an edit?

Parent resource list

Common Sense Media — Digital Literacy & Well-Being Curriculum — long-form companion curriculum for families wanting to keep going.
AAP — Media and Children Communication Toolkit — research-backed practices for modelling healthy use.
Center for Humane Technology — Take Control — concrete settings changes and habit shifts for adults.
Day of AI — ongoing free curriculum — yearly updated lessons families can revisit as the tech changes.

Reflection

“The single most important thing I learned in this course was ___. The first thing I’ll do differently tomorrow is ___.”