A study published in Pediatrics in 2010 found a correlation between the amount of time spent viewing TV and playing video games and subsequent attention problems in adolescence. The authors recommend adding TV and video games to the discussion on attention problem risk factors.
The abstract of this study can be found here.
Cris Rowan is a biologist, pediatric occupational therapist and sensory specialist with expertise in the impact of technology on child development, behaviour and learning. Having worked in school settings for over 3 decades, Cris is committed to improving student health while also easing the job of learning for children. Cris is a well-known international speaker and author to teachers, parents and therapists globally on topics of sensory integration, learning, attention, fine motor skills and the impact of media content including video games, social media and pornography on children’s brain and body development. Cris has a BSc’s both in Occupational Therapy and in Biology, is a SIPT certified sensory specialist, and has Approved Provider Status for CEU provision with the American Occupational Therapy Association. Over the past 3 decades, Cris has provided over 350 keynotes and workshops, writes monthly articles for her blog Moving to Learn, publishes the monthly Child Development Series Newsletter, and is designer and creator of Reconnect Webinars which offer research evidenced information for teens, parents, teachers and clinicians to manage balanced between screens and healthy activities. Cris is member of the Screens in Schools committee with Fairplay for Kids, member of the Institute for Digital Media and Child Development and sits on the Board of Directors for the Global Alliance for Brain and Heart Health. Cris has two adult children, Matt and Katie who grew up without screens.
Cris can be reached at crowan@reconnectwebinars.com. Reconnect Webinars offers a free, 5.5-hour CCAP accredited Screenbuster Program training webinar for teens which qualifies them to perform Tech Talks for their peers. The Screenbuster Program requires one counsellor, teacher or principal to complete the 3-day Balanced Technology Management certification CEU provided course in order to adequately supervise the teens.
Fairplay and David’s Legacy Foundation launched a new initiative called ParentsSOS (Parents for Safe Online Spaces). Our new ParentsSOS site features the stories of twenty families who have lost their children to social media harms.
What children need to grow and succeed they are not getting. We have failed a whole generation of children in so many ways. It is beyond the time to pull our collective heads out of the sand and take a good hard look at the harm screens cause.
One of the most difficult challenges for parents and teachers these days is trying to manage problematic behaviours in children.