How to keep kids on task at school when using these crucial, but distracting, devices

Parents may have limited control over the settings in school-managed laptops and tablets.

FILE – Children work on a digital program at Coby Preschool in Yoshikawa, suburban Tokyo, July 12, 2018. [Photo: Yuri Kageyama, File/AP Photo]

Tablets and computers have become crucial school supplies for many students. But the same devices children use to read text, write essays, solve math problems, or research history projects can also offer distractions in the form of games, social media, and web browsing.It can be a challenge for parents to figure out how to help children stay focused when using these devices. That can be especially complicated with school-managed devices, where parents may have limited control over settings and restrictions.Helpful options can include using built-in tools and settings on devices, creating routines, and introducing time-management techniques.Here are some tips for parents to help children stay on task.

School-issued devices vs. personal devices

The strategies parents choose may depend on whether their children are working on their own devices or ones issued and managed by schools.Parents have more control over personal tablets or computers, and are able to restrict pop-up notifications from programs, block websites, or remove apps entirely. But school-issued devices often come with preloaded software and apps, and schools might manage those devices’ settings.Parents can talk with school administrators about what controls and restrictions are........

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