Recommended Guidelines for Digital Devices

Based on Texas Education Agency recommendations – October 2023

Katy ISD believes that laptops, tablets, and other digital devices have become indispensable tools in modern education. While they offer incredible opportunities for learning, we want to make sure students use them in ways that support their overall health and well-being. These guidelines bring together research-backed practices that schools and families can use together.

Screen Time Recommendations by Age

Pre-K and Early Elementary (ages 2-5): Keep digital device time to about an hour per day, and focus on educational content rather than games or videos purely for entertainment.

Elementary School (ages 5-8): There's no magic number here. What matters most is balance—make sure screen time doesn't crowd out physical activity, reading books, and spending time with friends and family.

Middle and High School (ages 9+): At this age, students need more flexibility since much of their schoolwork happens on devices. Families should have ongoing conversations about finding the right balance between academics, social life, and healthy habits.

Taking Breaks and Protecting Sleep

Research has shown that spending too much continuous time on screens can contribute to sleep difficulties, weight issues, and even feelings of depression. Here's what helps:

During class time, teachers will incorporate breaks and vary activities to avoid marathon screen sessions
Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This simple habit gives your eyes a much-needed rest.
Power down devices at least an hour before bedtime—the blue light from screens can interfere with your body's natural sleep signals

Setting Up for Comfort

How you sit and position your device makes a real difference in preventing neck strain, eye fatigue, and other discomfort:

Sit up straight with your shoulders relaxed and your wrists in a neutral position
Position the screen about an arm's length away, with the top of the screen at or just below eye level
Keep your feet flat on the floor (or use a footrest if needed)
Work in well-lit spaces and adjust screen brightness to avoid glare

Building Healthy Habits at Home

What happens outside of school matters just as much. Here are some practices that can help the whole family:

Make meals and family time device-free zones—these moments are too valuable to be scrolling through screens
Parents, your kids are watching. When you model balanced device use, they're more likely to follow suit
Keep devices out of bedrooms at night. Charging stations in common areas work great
Encourage plenty of time outdoors, playing sports, reading physical books, and doing hands-on creative projects

Online Safety Essentials

Our district takes digital security seriously. We use content filters and have clear acceptable use policies in place. We also teach students about:

Using multi-factor authentication and creating strong, unique passwords
Recognizing phishing attempts and other online threats
Being responsible digital citizens and thinking carefully about what they share online

Supporting Our Teachers

Technology changes fast, and our teachers are committed to keeping up. We provide ongoing professional development, collaboration tools, and learning management systems to help teachers integrate devices effectively and safely into their instruction.

Katy ISD believes that digital devices are powerful learning tools, but they work best when balanced with physical activity, face-to-face interaction, and healthy routines. When schools, families, and students work together, we can harness the benefits of technology while protecting physical, mental, and emotional health.