In today’s always-connected world, families are facing a growing challenge: how to raise healthy, well-balanced children amid constant screen time, social media, and digital distractions.

To support parents and caregivers, Dublin City Schools recently launched Press Pause, a summer podcast and digital wellness campaign designed to help families reflect, reset, and reconnect. The goal? To spark meaningful conversations about screen time, digital habits, and how families can work together to create balance at home.

Each Press Pause episode is short—just 15 to 20 minutes—making it easy for busy listeners to tune in during a drive, a walk, or while cooking dinner. The conversations feature familiar voices from the DCS community, including principals, counselors, teachers, and local experts who see firsthand how digital life is impacting students’ sleep, focus, relationships, and mental health.

The topics are timely and relevant. Recent episodes explore how late-night phone use affects sleep, how artificial intelligence is changing the way students complete schoolwork, and what happens when children encounter misinformation or impersonated accounts online. These are not distant issues. Dublin City Schools has handled incidents involving AI-generated content, fake accounts, and harmful online behavior. 

Press Pause is built on a simple but powerful idea: schools can’t do this work alone.  While educators play a role in addressing these concerns, much of a child’s digital activity happens outside of school hours. That’s why strong family-school partnerships are more important than ever. Parents and caregivers play a vital role in helping children develop healthy tech habits, set boundaries, and understand how to navigate a digital world with confidence.

In addition to the podcast, the district has created an online resource hub with articles, conversation starters, and tools families can use at home. The goal isn’t to shame or scare anyone. It’s to provide support, promote awareness, and remind families they’re not alone.

To explore episodes and resources, visit www.dublinschools.net/press-pause. Because sometimes, a little pause goes a long way.