Dec. 6, 2025

We know that young people are on screens far too often. The quote on the left, from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health page on 'Problem Technology Use,' highlights the contributing factors. The consequences for many aspects of life affecting education are obvious to teachers:

• difficulty paying attention

• difficulty separating from technology

• difficulty listening to instructions

• difficulty following through with school work at home

• difficulty getting to sleep and waking up

• easily bored or frustrated

Speaking personally, having taught for 28 years - beginning in a time when there were no cell phones in school - the number one thing I see is lack of productivity compared to students from the previous generation. 

Students can absolutely be engaged in their own education! However, it takes much work from teachers to get them there. And from parents and guardians at home, to be sure. 

Teachers need parents/guardians to be their partners on this topic. We cannot control what students do at home. Together, teachers and parents/guardians need to help students recognize that there are ways to detach themselves from screens. One strategy may be to recognize what is happening in their brains.  

Resources: 

CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) page on 'Problem Technology Use.'

ParticipACTION: Screen  Time

University of Waterloo Compass System: Screen Time Resources

Ontario Psychological Association: The Impact of Screen Time on Mental Health - What Parents Need to Know