Tech Trek: Navigating the Digital Highway is an online resource designed to help families make informed decisions about technology use, from first devices to social media platforms and gaming safety. (PRNew/Upper Dublin Education Foundation)
If you’ve ever wondered when to give your child their first phone, how to handle TikTok, or how much gaming is “too much,” you’re not alone. Parents across Upper Dublin and beyond are grappling with the same questions. Now, the Upper Dublin Education Foundation (UDEF) has rolled out a new resource to help: Tech Trek: Navigating the Digital Highway.
Tech Trek is an online hub full of practical, research-backed advice on everything from screen time routines to online safety. Think of it as a GPS for families trying to guide kids through the twists and turns of today’s digital world.
“Parenting in the digital age is one of today’s most pressing challenges,” said Michelle Boas, UDEF’s Executive Director. “Technology shapes so much of our children’s lives, bringing both opportunities and real concerns. Tech Trek gives families the tools to navigate digital well-being so students can stay engaged, healthy and ready to thrive.”
The site covers four main areas:
Device Readiness: Should your 10-year-old really get a smartphone? What about alternatives? Tech Trek helps families weigh the options.
Social Media Safety: A plain-language guide to Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and more, including how to set privacy settings and spot cyberbullying.
Gaming Communities: Tips for balancing fun with healthy habits, plus how to keep in-game spending from getting out of hand.
Screen Time Balance: Strategies for building good routines without turning every conversation into a battle over “how many hours.”
One of the voices behind the project is Dr. Devorah Heitner, author of Growing Up in Public, who has worked with UDEF on Tech Trek. “Parents need resources that help them stay engaged and informed as platforms change, new risks emerge, and their children’s digital needs evolve,” she said. “The key is staying curious and connected rather than trying to control from a distance.”
The foundation designed Tech Trek with input from child development experts, local families, and community leaders, and leaned on research from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Organization for Social Media Safety.
Importantly, the goal isn’t to prescribe one “right” way to handle technology. “Every child is different. Every family is different,” Boas explained. “When families have clear, trustworthy information, they can approach technology with greater confidence and less stress.”
Beyond articles and guides, the platform also offers interactive checklists, conversation starters, and step-by-step guides to help parents decide when their kids are ready for different digital milestones.
Funded through a donation from a community member, Tech Trek is free for all families and will be promoted at events, in schools, and online throughout the 2025–26 school year.
For more information, visit www.udtechtrek.org
