High schoolers advise fourth and fifth graders on screen time

Six high school students from Wantagh High School spent 30 minutes answering questions from fourth and fifth graders at Forest Lake Elementary School on Oct. 22. The juniors and seniors visited to discuss how to use the internet safely and respectfully during Digital Citizenship Week.

The session was moderated by the Forest Lake student council. These moderators prepared questions in advance based on topics their classmates wanted to address. The discussion covered group chats, screen time limits, and the role of social media in daily life. Elementary students also asked for suggestions on enjoyable activities that do not involve digital devices.

Donna Shulman, the guidance counselor at Forest Lake, stated that the high school students were selected by their own guidance counselors. She noted that children often receive advice from adults in their lives. Shulman explained that hearing from high school students whom they view as role models can have a meaningful impact on how they process that advice.

Shulman clarified that the event aimed to show that technology is not inherently bad or dangerous. She said the goal was to help younger students understand both the benefits and the challenges of digital tools. The discussion focused on finding a balance in their lives and knowing when it is good to unplug.