Navigating Your Way Back to School (and Life)

From homework to video chats--and everything in between--having the right tech setup at home can make all the difference. Whether you're helping kids stay on track with schoolwork, or simplifying tech for aging parents, now's the perfect time for a digital refresh. Let's talk smart updates, smoother connections, and tools that help everyone feel a little more secure, confident, and in control day to day. Power Up Productivity: HP OmniBook 5 with Snapdragon First up, this powerhouse packs incredible AI performance into a backpack-friendly frame. It works for up to 34 hours unplugged and has an integrated HP AI Companion that summarizes notes, drafts essay outlines, and a ton more--no extra apps are needed. It has a super-fast charging speed that sprints up to 50% battery in about 30 minutes. It's eco-friendly, made with recycled aluminum, and has an EPEAT Gold certification -- recognized for outstanding sustainability. Family-Ready Printing: HP Smart Tank 5101 All-in-One Printer This is great for busy families and comes with up to two years' worth of ink. It's great for nonstop vibrant color printing. Set up is super easy with the HP Smart app. Plus, to beat the summer slide ahead of back-to-school, they have these new bite sized lessons. They're science-backed, kid-friendly printable placemats that are perfect for sitting around the dinner table and getting creative. Safety First: Stay Cyber-Smart with Norton Next, now more than ever, an absolute must--you need to have a cyber safety plan. While technology is amazing, it can also leave you susceptible for new risks that you may not even see coming. According to cyber safety brand Norton -- one in four children in the U.S. have experienced cyberbullying--and it's not just happening on social media. It's showing up in text messages, group chats, and even classroom apps. Even more eye-opening, 36% of kids say they've found ways around screen time limits, and nearly one in five parents have caught their child sharing private information with strangers online, so we've partnered with Norton to help make it easier for parents to stay involved and for kids to stay safe. They have so many amazing tools -- Norton Family manages screen time and Norton Genie verifies suspicious messages. And you know, a lot of us are also helping older loved ones navigate life online too. According to Avast's 2025 Safe Tech Report, 84% are warning aging parents about scams, but many aren't listening or don't fully understand the risks. So, back-to-school season is a great time to do a tech check-in with your entire family and get some peace of mind online. Check out norton.com and avast.com for more info. Digital Safety = Digital Confidence Other things you should be doing to stay safe online? Always update devices and apps, use strong, unique passwords for every account, turn on two-factor authentication, and remind kids and older adults not to share their full name, address, or school online, especially with people they don't know. Ultimately, it's all about building healthy digital habits by explaining and framing the situation. It's not that you don't trust them, it's about safety, like wearing a seat belt. Make safety feel empowering, not controlling.