Helping Kids Build Healthy Digital Habits: A Look Inside Lakeview Schools’ Digital Safety Presentations
Last week, speaker Robert Hackenson Jr. had the opportunity to work with students and families at Lakeview Schools in Michigan, delivering a series of dynamic, engaging presentations focused on digital safety and responsible technology use.
We kicked things off with a parent presentation in the evening, followed by student sessions the next day for upper elementary (grades 5 & 6) and middle school (grades 7 & 8) students. As an experienced internet safety speaker for schools, my goal is always the same: make the message meaningful, memorable, and actionable.
Each student presentation was designed to be fun, interactive, and highly engaging. By incorporating magic, illusions, humor, and storytelling, students stayed fully involved while learning critical life skills—proving that education doesn’t have to be boring to be impactful.
Presentations Tailored to Grades
For younger students, the internet safety presentation focused on building a strong foundation. Robert talked about what it means to be healthy and how technology plays a role in that. Students learned the importance of creating healthy screen habits for kids, understanding limits, and recognizing situations where they need to be cautious online.
With our 7th and 8th graders, the conversation went deeper into the social media impact on youth mental health. Robert discussed how screen time, comparison, and online interactions can affect confidence, mood, and relationships. He also emphasized the importance of developing real-world communication and conflict resolution skills—not just relying on screens.
Robert tackled serious topics like cyberbullying, hateful posting, and online predators, while reinforcing a message that truly resonated:
“The internet isn’t written in pencil—it’s written in ink.”
What students post today can follow them for years.
Information for Parents
Additional Resources
Lakeview Schools Parenting in a Digital Age Presentation
Helpful Resources
