Screen Time

How much time do your children spend in front of a screen each day?

screen = your phone, ipad, tv, computer etc.


What are they missing out on because they are in front of a screen?

outdoor play, creativity, communicating with family and friends, reading, exercising

“Families should proactively think about their children’s media use and talk with children about it, because too much media use can mean that children don’t have enough time during the day to play, study, talk, or sleep,” said Jenny Radesky, MD, FAAP

Read the full article here: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/american-academy-of-pediatrics-announces-new-recommendations-for-childrens-media-use.aspx


Common Sense Media has helpful information to navigate the digital age: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/


On Wednesday night, 12/6/17 my husband and I attended Living in a Smartphone World at NNHS. I took pages of notes, but what stood out for me as a mom and a 2nd grade teacher were these points:

+ more than ever before, people of all ages NEED meaningful face to face communication

+ deep play, creativity and empathy can NOT be exercised with a screen

+ screen time = stimulants - How often do we want our children on stimulants?

+ parenting in a digital age is straining family relationships

* When kids are on screens in the car, at the table (restaurant or at home), during a play date they are not communicating, engaging, or interacting with the people around them! Social emotional learning is the most effective tool needed for developing healthy lifestyles. Devices delete social emotional learning. *

+ kids thrive during time connected to other people, interacting and creating

+ the wonders of technology are deleting the wonders of childhood

+ spikes of anxiety and depression are occurring in tweens and teens

+ mindfulness, being peaceful and silent when waiting is eliminated when downtime is filled with a screen in hand

+ parenting is HARD but we have to set limits and make conscious decisions about screen time, for our kids and for ourselves


The talk was geared toward ages ranging from preschool through college. Resources for parenting in a digital age were recommended:

ConnectSafely

CommonSenseMedia

Edutopia