Norfleet Elementary School PTA
Raytown, Mo.
From age-appropriate content, screen time and online safety, parenting in the digital age can be challenging. To help families in their Title I school community navigate today’s digital world, Norfleet Elementary School in in Raytown, Mo., held a held a Ready, Tech, Go! event with their grant from National PTA supported by AT&T.
Families learned how to have regular and ongoing conversations about technology use. They also learned tips to determine screen readiness, which goes beyond a child’s age and includes their emotional maturity, ability to follow family rules, communication skills and understanding of online safety.
“Our Ready, Tech, Go! event was impactful because it presented the idea that screen readiness is not tied to age. The event provided helpful tips for families to create digital expectations and plan for ongoing conversations with their children,” reported the PTA.
Families also learned where to find high-quality, age-appropriate content.
“Participants really liked the tip sheets and take-home sheet of QR codes provided by National PTA where they could find more resources and content for their kids. It was good to see The Achievery™ app that offers a safe place online for kids and that offers educational content,” said the PTA.
The event also encouraged parents to reflect on their own technology habits and how they influence their family. “One of the key takeaways of our event was that we as parents and caregivers role model good digital behaviors,” said the PTA.
Families broke out into small groups to discuss prompts given in the program planning guide, role model screen time conversations and ask questions.
”The event provided helpful tips for families to create digital expectations and plan for ongoing conversations with their children. It was great to see the parents discussing ideas and supporting one another,” said Lori Kang, Norfleet Elementary School Principal.
“This event gave me a more set and objective plan for when to know that my kids are ready for a phone,” said Brandi Tittle, Norfleet Elementary School parent.
Ready, Tech, Go! is a PTA Connected program. Learn more about PTA Connected, which strives to help students act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online, and how your PTA can host a Ready, Tech, Go! event in your school.
In their own words:
“The event provided helpful tips for families to create digital expectations and plan for ongoing conversations with their children. It was great to see the parents discussing ideas and supporting one another!”
Kempton Street Literacy Academy PTA
Spring Valley, Calif.
For many parents of elementary school students, one question looms large: When is my child ready for a phone? While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, experts agree that the conversation should focus on more than age alone. A child's emotional maturity, ability to follow family rules, communication skills and understanding of online safety are all important aspects of screen readiness.
To help families navigate these decisions, Kempton Street Literacy Academy PTA in Spring Valley, Calif., hosted a Ready, Tech, Go! event using a grant from National PTA supported by AT&T. The interactive workshop gave parents in their Title I community practical tools and resources to create healthy digital habits at home while opening the door to meaningful conversations about responsible technology use.
Parents actively shared their experiences, asked thoughtful questions and reflected on their own family's technology habits. School leaders also embraced the program, with the principal requesting a second event to reach even more families.
"The information we provided helped families reflect on responsible device use and encouraged open discussions about setting healthy boundaries and creating safer digital habits for the whole family," reported the Kempton Street Literacy Academy PTA.
One of the biggest successes of the event was the high level of parent participation. “Our program strengthened relationships between families and the school by creating a welcoming space where parents felt comfortable asking questions and learning from one another.”
One parent shared "Sometimes I don't realize how much screen time I allow my child to have or how important it is to set healthy limits and understand the impact it can have on them."
Another parent appreciated hearing from other adults in the community. "This information is very helpful for our community, and more families should be aware of it. Sometimes my child may not want to hear advice from me, but they will listen to another parent or trusted adult in the community."
Parents left the program feeling more informed and better equipped to support their children as they grow up in a digital world.
Ready, Tech, Go! is a PTA Connected program. Learn more about PTA Connected, which strives to help students act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online, and how your PTA can host a Ready, Tech, Go! event in your school.
In their own words:
“The information we provided helped families reflect on responsible device use and encouraged open discussions about setting healthy boundaries and creating safer digital habits for the whole family.”
Heathrow Elementary School PTA
Lake Mary, Fla.
When it comes to raising children in today's digital world, many parents feel like they're learning as they go. To help families navigate those challenges together, Heathrow Elementary School PTA in Lake Mary, Fla., hosted a Ready, Tech, Go! event through a grant from National PTA supported by AT&T.
Ready, Tech, Go! helps parents and caregivers of elementary school students explore what it means to be screen ready, providing families with resources to help them make decisions about technology use while building healthy digital habits at home.
"Parents in our community feel like they are playing catch-up to children who were raised on technology," reported the PTA. "Our event created a space for meaningful peer-to-peer discussions about screen readiness and ways to promote healthy and responsible device use for all members of the family.
In addition to the meaningful conversations among parents, the program included interactive activities from the provided program guide that encouraged everyone to participate.
"The interactive resources were fun and played a big role in getting everyone to open up and share their personal experiences," the PTA said. "People who may not have been comfortable raising their hands still got to share their experiences in a way that did not feel threatening."
"The most significant positive impact was witnessing how parents who didn't even know each other engage in discussions and learn from one another's experiences," the PTA reported. "Parents were surprisingly honest about the technology issues that were affecting their homes, and it was refreshing to be part of such a judgment-free zone. Even though most of us were strangers, the discussions were so personal it seemed as though we had been friends for years. It was a beautiful thing to witness."
The event explored screen readiness as more than simply reaching a certain age. Families discussed four key indicators—motivation, responsibility, accountability and maturity—and reflected on how every child and family is different. Participants also learned about resources including the Common Sense Media and AT&T’s ScreenReady websites that offer age-appropriate content and additional guidance to support future technology conversations at home.
One participant said the workshop changed how she thinks about giving her children their first phone. "The Ready, Tech, Go! workshop was incredible. It made me realize that my children aren't quite ready for their first cell phone just yet,” said parent Nida Siddiqi Farooq.
The experience reinforced the power of bringing families together to talk openly about one of today's biggest parenting challenges.
"We definitely achieved the goal of creating space for meaningful peer-to-peer discussions about screen readiness and ways to promote healthy and responsible device use," said the PTA. "We equipped families with trusted resources that they can continue using long after the event.
Ready, Tech, Go! is a PTA Connected program. Learn more about PTA Connected, which strives to help students act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online, and how your PTA can host a Ready, Tech, Go! event in your school.
In their own words:
“My favorite part about the program was the lively group discussions on technology—hearing different perspectives and ideas on technology from everyone in the room made the experience incredibly valuable.”
Ed C. Lewis Elementary School PTA
Downey, Calif.
The 2025 Common Sense Media Census found that one in four kids under eight years old—the average age of a third grader—have their own phone. With kids wanting phones at increasingly younger ages, many parents are asking questions about screen time and online safety, and wonder if their child is even ready for a phone.
To help parents in their Title I school community navigate today’s digital world, Ed C. Lewis Elementary School PTA in Downey, Calif., held a Ready, Tech, Go! event with their grant from National PTA supported by AT&T.
Their program included discussions on screen time, online safety and how to establish healthy digital usage guidelines at home. Families learned about digital tools that monitor screen time and automatically shut devices off when kids hit their allotted screen time limit. They also learned how to:
- Have regular and ongoing conversations about technology use
- Have healthy discussions when their child has a misstep with their family’s digital expectations
- Find high-quality, age-appropriate content
The PTA used the provided materials translated in Spanish to reach more of their diverse school community.
“Our event was very successful. Parents face many decisions when considering getting a device for their child, so we were happy to offer this program that provided screen readiness guidance and tips,” reported the PTA. “Our parents were open to sharing, and I loved the interaction during the program.”
"This workshop was eye opening for me. I was just talking to my wife about getting our 5th grader a phone. I'm so happy we came and heard all about device safety," said a parent.
Ready, Tech, Go! is a PTA Connected program. Learn more about PTA Connected, which strives to help students act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online, and how your PTA can host a Ready, Tech, Go! event at your school.
In their own words:
“My child just got a phone. We didn't discuss anything about the device, just your normal do's and don'ts. After this, we are definitely having a more in-depth conversation.”
Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School PTSA
Yonkers, N.Y.
From technology use to online safety, parenting in the digital age can be challenging. To help families in their Title I school community navigate today’s digital world, Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School PTSA in Yonkers, N.Y., held a held a Ready, Tech, Go! event with their grant from National PTA supported by AT&T.
“We wanted to give families a space to discuss screen readiness, healthy technology habits and responsible device use at home,” reported the PTSA. “During our program, parents shared experiences, asked questions and learned the importance of setting limits, establishing routines and having open conversations about technology.”
They also shared practical tips to guide technology conversations and decisions at home, including when to give their child a phone.
“A key outcome was that families better understood screen readiness as more than device skills—it also includes balance, safety, communication and responsibility. Parents shared the challenges they face with technology while learning positive ways to have important conversations with their children about technology use.”
The event also encouraged parents to reflect on their own technology habits and how they influence their family. “Parents gained a better understanding of the importance of setting healthy limits for everyone in the family.”
“The grant made it possible for our PTSA to offer a helpful and engaging program that strengthened family engagement.”
Ready, Tech, Go! is a PTA Connected program. Learn more about PTA Connected, which strives to help students act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online, and how your PTA can host a Ready, Tech, Go! event in your school.
In their own words:
“Thank you for bringing this program to our school. It helped us understand the importance of having conversations with our children about technology and setting healthy limits.”
Chute Middle School PTA
Evanston, Ill.
To help their Title I school community navigate conversations about online safety, digital citizenship and screen time, Chute Middle School PTA in Evanston, Ill., used their grant from National PTA and Google to host a Be Internet Awesome event.
Be Internet Awesome is designed to teach kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence. Using the provided presentations and facilitator guides, they helped parents create a shared understanding of what it means to be internet smart, alert, strong, kind and brave.
“For our event, we designed a brave space where parents could openly voice their digital anxieties and discover that their struggles with screen time limits, social media etiquette and online safety were widely shared experiences, not personal failures. Structured peer-to-peer dialogue proved to be the evening's most praised element, turning the school library into a hub for collaborative problem-solving,” reported the PTA.
“The five pillars—smart, alert, strong, kind and brave—gave families a simple, memorable framework that made previously uncomfortable conversations feel approachable rather than confrontational. By giving families a shared vocabulary, our program transformed vague anxieties about the digital world into concrete, actionable strategies that parents felt ready to put into practice,” said the PTA.
"I always felt like I was policing my kids' devices, which only led to arguments. This workshop gave me a new vocabulary to use with my kids. Now, instead of just saying 'put the phone away,' we are going to talk about what it means to actually be a strong digital citizen,” said a Chute Middle School sixth grade parent.
Families also learned about Google’s digital safety tools, including Google’s SafeSearch and Family Link, through the provided Meet Leo resource.
“Physical takeaways like the Meet LEO resource ensured the conversation didn't end when families left the event, giving them a practical roadmap for turning abstract concepts into daily habits,” said the PTA.
"The transition to middle school is one of the highest-stakes moments for social media and digital identity. Seeing the Chute PTA partner with National PTA and Google to deliver vetted, professional-grade resources was invaluable. It bridges the gap between what we teach in the classroom and what happens at the kitchen table, creating a unified front for student well-being," said the Chute Middle School principal.
Be Internet Awesome is a PTA Connected program, which strives to help families and communities discuss digital safety and establish healthy digital behaviors. Learn more about PTA Connected and how you can host a Be Internet Awesome program in your school.
In their own words:
“Attendees left feeling equipped to move beyond reactive screen-time monitoring toward values-driven conversations with their children, ones rooted in character rather than restriction.”
Cheek Middle School PTA
Prosper, Texas
When families talk openly and often about safe, age-appropriate technology use, kids are better prepared to build healthy digital habits.
To support those conversations in their Prosper, Texas, school community, Cheek Middle School PTA used their grant from National PTA and Norton (part of the Gen family of brands) to host The Smart Talk.
The Smart Talk is a free tool that helps families set digital safety ground rules together. For their event, the PTA used the provided program guide to walk families through different digital topics. Families then created a personalized technology agreement that covers topics like screen time and online behavior.
“Our event brought families together to talk about healthy digital habits and have honest conversations about what that means for them. Families also found it helpful to hear from other families about their values and how they disconnect in order to really re-connect with their kids,” reported the PTA. "Programs like Smart Talk are exactly why PTA exists—to bridge the gap between school and home and give families tools they can use immediately. The emotional impact is real because it meets parents where they are and gives them hope and direction in their interactions with their children."
The Smart Talk is a PTA Connected program, which strives to help children act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online. Learn more about PTA Connected and how you can host The Smart Talk in your school.
In their own words:
“Families who attended were able to communicate openly and in a positive way about technology and digital safety.”
Adamsville Elementary School PTA
Adamsville, Alabama
To help families in their Title I school community in Adamsville, Alabama, have conversations about technology use and digital responsibility, Adamsville Elementary School PTA hosted The Smart Talk using their grant from National PTA and Norton (part of the Gen family of brands).
The Smart Talk offers practical guidance on how families can have positive, proactive conversations about screen time, online safety and digital habits. During the event, parents and students worked together on personalized family technology agreements to set healthy digital limits together.
“Our program started conversations that many families want to have but don’t always know how to start. It showed families how to have proactive dialogue rather than reactive discipline about technology use. The shared language around setting limits and modeling healthy behavior was especially impactful,” reported the PTA.
State and local government leaders supported and participated in the event, which reinforced the message that digital safety is a shared community priority.
“Healthy families build healthy communities. The Smart Talk program created space for meaningful conversations between parents and children about technology, conversations that are critical in today’s world. I’m grateful to see Adamsville PTA leading initiatives that equip families with tools that make a lasting difference in both our schools and our city,” said Adamsville Mayor Nathaniel Byrd.
“Parents shared that they felt more confident setting boundaries and having proactive conversations at home. Overall, the program strengthened family engagement, increased awareness and had a very positive impact on our school community,” reported the PTA.
The Smart Talk is a PTA Connected program. Learn more about PTA Connected and how you can host The Smart Talk in your school.
In their own words:
“As a parent, I appreciated that The Smart Talk didn’t just tell us to limit screen time; it showed us how to have the conversation.”
Stoney Point Elementary School PTA
Fayetteville, N.C.
Helping kids be safe, kind and responsible online requires having ongoing conversations with them about when and how they use their devices.
To give parents and caregivers in their Fayetteville, N.C., school community the tools to discuss digital citizenship, Stoney Point Elementary School PTA used their grant from National PTA and Norton (part of the Gen family of brands) to host The Smart Talk.
The Smart Talk offers practical guidance on how families can have positive, proactive conversations about screen time, online safety and digital habits. Using the provided program guide, families came together to talk about safe, responsible technology use. The program sparked meaningful conversations about online habits, privacy and screen time, and it gave parents practical strategies to help raise responsible digital citizens.
“Our event gave parents the confidence and language to initiate conversations they previously felt unsure about. Parents felt more empowered to talk with their children about digital safety, boundaries, emotional needs and responsible online decision-making,” reported the PTA.
“This program helped me start conversations with my child that I honestly didn’t know how to approach. The resources were simple, clear and exactly what we needed. I feel more confident supporting my child online and in real life,” said a parent.
“Many parents expressed that the program helped them feel more connected to their child and better prepared to guide them through challenges both online and offline. Overall, the programs strengthened family relationships, increased confidence and helped create a more informed, supported and connected school community,” said the PTA.
The Smart Talk is a PTA Connected program, which strives to help children act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online. Learn more about PTA Connected and how you can host The Smart Talk in your school.
In their own words:
“This program helped me start conversations with my child that I honestly didn’t know how to approach. The resources were simple, clear and exactly what we needed.”
Elsinore High School PTSA
Wildomar, Calif.
Being a good digital citizen means acting responsibly, ethically and safely online. To help families navigate the online world and understand what it means to be a good digital citizen, the Elsinore High School PTSA in Wildomar, Calif., used their grant from National PTA and Discord to host a Build Up and Belong event. They held their program at their community’s Parent Education Fair, which brought families from eight different school districts together, increasing participation and spreading awareness about digital citizenship and online safety throughout their wider community.
In addition to the engaging and interactive presentation provided in the Build Up and Belong toolkit, Elsinore High School PTSA added a panel discussion at the end of their program. The panel included student experts and a digital media instructor who shared their online experiences and answered questions from participants.
Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive:
- “The presentation was good and I really liked the personal responses from the panel. They really had interesting online experiences.” – Student participant
- “I thought the presentation was very enlightening. I felt the openness of the panel was very refreshing and helped me, as a parent, understand some of the challenges of being teen in this tech time.” – Elsinore High School parent
"Information about internet safety, social media, the internet footprint and online security is necessary to help families in our district be safe and aware when online. We are grateful to have been selected to take part in this grant program so we could reach so many families with this important information,” reported the PTSA.
Build Up and Belong is a PTA Connected program. Learn more about PTA Connected, which strives to help teens act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online, and how you can host a Build Up and Belong event in your school.
In their own words:
“The openness of the student panel was very refreshing and helped me, as a parent, understand some of the challenges of being a teen in this tech time.”
Eastside Memorial High Schools at Johnston Campus PTSA
Austin, Texas
Eastside Memorial High Schools at Johnston Campus PTSA serves a Title I community in Austin, Texas. To bring their diverse community together for open discussions about good digital citizenship, online safety and social media use, they used their grant from National PTA and Discord to hold a Build Up and Belong event.
Using the provided program guide, students and their families had engaging discussions about different digital dilemmas students could face online. They also discussed tips for making good decisions in the digital world, and parents learned about tools to keep students safe online.
“The discussions around the different scenarios were very powerful. Several adults and teens spoke up about their perspectives and experiences. The content was not timid, and neither were the participants! It really helped open the lines of communication not just between teens and their adults, but among our school community as a whole,” reported the PTSA.
To increase participation, their district provided interpretation services. They also offered teen-friendly door prizes. They had a great turnout at their event, including a person from their local City Council member’s office.
"I thought it was going to be a bunch of boring stuff I already knew, but it was actually interesting," reported a 10th grade student who attended the event.
Build Up and Belong is a PTA Connected program. Learn more about PTA Connected, which strives to help teens act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online, and how you can host a Build Up and Belong event in your school.
In their own words:
“I thought it was going to be a bunch of boring stuff I already knew, but it was actually interesting.”
AF North International Middle/High School PTA
United States Armed Services
The AF North International Middle/High School is a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school that serves military families overseas. In today’s digital world, the PTA wanted to help their school community navigate complex topics including cybersecurity, online communities, digital citizenship and social media. Using their grant from National PTA and Discord, they held a Build Up and Belong event.
Using the provided program guide, students and their families had engaging discussions about different digital dilemmas students could face online. They also discussed tips for making good decisions in the digital world, and parents learned about tools to keep students safe online.
Prior to their event, students could complete a writing prompt asking them to share their thoughts on the pros and cons of technology’s impact on their sense of belonging. Over 200 students completed the prompt, and many of those stories and quotes were shared during the event, giving parents additional insights into how students view growing up in the digital age.
"Our Build Up & Belong event was an informative, insightful, and engaging. It was great to learn tips to help us all navigate interactions in both the digital and real world. Hearing our students’ perspectives was also invaluable. Many students were open in their responses to the prompt, and provided opinions and insights they may not have shared otherwise,” reported the PTA.
Build Up & Belong is a PTA Connected program. Learn more about PTA Connected, which strives to help children and teens act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online, and how you can host a program in your school.
In their own words:
“Technology is such an important and complex topic, and parents aren't always sure how to navigate these discussions with their teens. Implementing the Build Up & Belong program made it easier to have those conversations.”
Argyle Middle School PTSA
Silver Spring, Md.
Argyle Middle School PTSA understood that every family’s relationship with technology is unique. To help their school community in Silver Spring, Md., build healthy digital habits, teach the fundamentals of digital citizenship and find tools and resources to support online safety, the PTSA used their grant from National PTA and Google to host a Be Internet Awesome event.
Using the provided program guide, the PTSA shared information about Google’s digital safety tools, including Google’s SafeSearch and Family Link, through a presentation of the Meet LEO program, which gave them practical safety solutions they could implement immediately. They also invited the local police department to share online safety tips.
“Our event had the largest turnout of any event we hosted. It was really useful that the program covered safety features for all types of digital devices, not just the internet. Many of the attendees told us they learned something new and feel better equipped to guide their students to have healthier digital habits,” reported the PTSA.
Be Internet Awesome is a PTA Connected program. Learn more about PTA Connected, which strives to help children and teens act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online, and how you can host a program in your school.
In their own words:
“We all learned some new information about how families can stay safe on the internet as well as some good habits when using electronic devices.”