- Children aren’t Born with Mental Illness – We make them that way
Exploring ten myths and facts regarding child mental illness origins and treatment Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, research studies documented an alarming rise in child and youth mental illness. The long-term effects of imposed isolation… More - Screen Tips for Tots – Early overuse of screen technology can cause permanent damage in toddlers
Part one in the Screen Tips series Screen Tips for Tots is the first of a research referenced series on the impact of screen technologies on child body and brain development. Written by Cris Rowan,… More - Kevlar for Teachers – The role of violent media in escalating student violence in schools.
Over the past year I’ve assessed ~ 100 elementary and high school students with most frequent reasons for referrals being poor self-regulation, aggression, and inability to pay attention (in that order). While I pride myself… More - Where Do the Children Play? What happens when our kid’s only childhood memory is a screen?
One of our jobs as parents is to create childhood memories that will sustain them through their lifetime; memories that will be told around the camp fire, at weddings, and even at funerals. Memories so… More - EdTech’s Failed Experiment – 10 ‘screen myths’ schools believe despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary
For the past 35 years I’ve worked as a pediatric occupational therapist providing a variety of services in schools settings including individualized assessments, staff workshops and playground/gym consultations. During this time, I’ve witnessed dramatic changes… More - Parenting and Screens: The 7 rights of a child
While parenting has never been easy, parenting in the digital world requires a total new skill set that many parents are struggling to establish. What we want to remember as we negotiate our way through… More - Momo Is A Red Flag – The internet is not a safe nor a happy place for our children.
Despite police reports and pediatrician citations, the recent Momo Suicide Challenge was determined by media to be fake. Hoax or not, the resurfacing Momo Suicide Challenge presents parents, teachers and governments with a hard to… More - Misguided Guidelines – Result of technology’s infiltration into government sectors
When it comes to keeping children safe from harm, societies traditionally trusted their health, education and social governments to advise and guide them. While not every branch of government is wholly without fault, generally governments… More - Screens and Meals – From babies to adults, mealtime should be screen-free.
The evening meal is traditionally recognized as a social occasion involving family members, a table/chairs, and a home cooked dinner. When I was a child, dinners involved my two brothers and I suffering through an… More - Ten reasons why video games should be banned for children under the age of 12
Video games are a ubiquitous form of entertainment in today’s children and youth, and while fun and exciting, have a darker side that parents, teachers and health professionals can no longer ignore. While many adults… More - 5G Space Appeal launchedAn International Appeal to Stop 5G on Earth and in Space has been launched. The Appeal, together with the list of signatories, will be formally presented to the United Nations, World Health Organization, European Union, and… More
- Screens in Schools – Are ‘tech-centric’ teachers addicted to technology?
As the debate rages about the use of cell phones, tablets and computers in schools, one unaddressed question is “Are the teachers that are pushing more and more technology on students, themselves addicted to screens”?… More - Ten reasons why children under the age of 12 should not play violent video games.
Video games are a ubiquitous form of entertainment in today’s children and youth, and while fun and exciting, video games have a dark side that parents, teachers and clinicians can no longer afford to ignore.… More - Screens, Sleep and Play – Guidelines for Healthy Living
Children are overusing screens 4-5 times what Doctors recommend. Three out of four children are sleep deprived, adversely affecting their health, mood, and school performance. Time spent sedentary and indoors, prevents engagement in critical factors… More - Ramifications of Early Screen Use – Content, duration, and age of first exposure are critical.
Research regarding screen use in the early years is revealing significant changes to brain and body development, necessitating immediate public health education interventions. Understanding how the brain and body develop in relation to a child’s… More - Wireless Radiation is NOT SAFE for Children – National Toxicology Program findings indicate “Go Wired” campaign urgently required to protect children.
In the dark recesses of every parent’s mind lives a niggling question “Are wireless devices safe”? While oncology and epidemiology researchers have expressed concerns regarding wireless radiation safety to various levels of health and education… More - Stop School Mass Shootings? Go after the video game and pharmaceutical industries.
Includes the School Mass Shooter Risk Inventory! The recent rise in mass school shootings has resulted in a singular focus on the implement of destruction…guns. While gun control requires attention, as well as eventual legislation… More - Rewarding Students with Screens – Pros and cons for best practice in schools
Increased use of cell phones and tablets in schools has reached a point of no return, as evidenced by education government’s refusal to fund books. While parents like to think these devices are being used… More - The Rise of Tech Activism and How You Can Take Part
Guest Blog by Jenifer Joy Madden. “Ban Russian Bots.” The words shone brightly projected across Twitter headquarters. Not long after, a listener of NPR’s 1a wrote: “Wish there was a national movement, like a Quit Facebook day. If they lost… More - Pediatrics Summary – Children, Adolescents and Screens: What We Know and What We Need to LearnAn interdisciplinary summit called Children and Screen Time: A Growing Health Crisis was held in Washington DC on Nov. 1, 2017 sponsored by Children and Screens: The Institute of Digital Media and Child Development. Research… More
- Tap, Click, CommercialismGuest Blog by Kathy Kleckner Children’s reading is reduced to little more than a pipeline for profits in a new book from Lisa Guernsey and Michael H. Levine, employees of think tanks funded by technology… More
- Gamer Brain – How video games are wiring your child’s brain for failure.
Meet Joe. Exhausted, Joe hauls himself out of bed after a night of gaming, following his Mom’s third attempt to get him up. If she’d just quit ragging on him, and let him sleep in.… More - Tech Guilt – Is feeling guilty about your child’s technology overuse enough?
Following a recent media interview on the negative impact of technology on children, the reporter stated that she “felt guilty” about letting her children use so much technology. As I thought about how to respond,… More - Child Health Crisis – Technology overuse deals the deathblow to Canadian children
Escalating incidence of poor child physical 1,2 and mental health 3 in Canada has now reached epidemic proportions. One in three children enter school developmentally vulnerable 4, one in four are obese or overweight 5,6,… More - Literacy by Grade 3 – Common sense screen management in schools.
In an average month, I receive 10-15 emails from teachers who express grave concerns regarding unrestricted use of technology in schools (see below email from a teacher in Maryland). These emails not only report problematic… More - “Wireless Radiation 101”
By Sveinn S. Kjartansson & Stella Saemundsdottir Guest Authors. Microwave radiation is emitted from ALL wireless technology including smartphones, tablets, laptops and routers as well as phone masts. This type of wireless radiation, named wifi, bluetooth,… More - New Tools That Help Families Manage Time
Guest Blog by Jenifer Joy Madden. If digital gadgets and games are being designed to attract and hold kids’ attention, American pediatricians are pushing back with their own design. “The goal is to give parents, and… More - Safe Schools Policy – Best Practice Standards for Screens and Radiation
The Safe Schools Policy – Best Practice Standards for Screens and Radiation was emailed to Canada’s Prime Minister and Canadian provincial Ministers of Health and Education, as well as Health Canada and The Council of… More - Online or Outside? Redefining child safety and risk.
During an assessment, a grade one child stated she “sneaks” her tablet to bed at night to talk with her “new friends”. When asked who these friends were, she responded “I’m not sure, but they… More - Screen Overuse: Why families do it, and how they can stop.
It was about 20 years ago when I started identifying children who overused screens. I was working in schools as a pediatric occupational therapist at the inception of the adhd craze, and was curious… More