Are you a clinician worried about the rise in child mental and physical disorders, and the trend to diagnose and medicate children? ‘Screen for Screens’ to assess duration and content of screen usage and treat your clients with screen management FIRST. I can help you.
Are you a teacher overwhelmed with ‘problematic behavior’ students? Are you concerned that children can’t print, read or do math? Do you have opinions about cell phone bans, but no one is listening? Did you know that to improve mental health, cell phone bans need to include breaks and recess as this is where students socialize and heal. Other screens such as laptops and tablets require restrictions as well. Think back to the computer lab concept, think about the cognitive process activated by learning with encyclopedias, think about enhancing literacy by teaching children to print. I can help you.
Are you in government or are a politician concerned with declining health and wellness, absenteeism in schools, low worker productivity, but are afraid to mandate much needed legislation change? More than ever, families, schools, workplaces and communities need you to take a stand and do what’s right to create sustainable futures for humanity. I can help you.
Are you in the technology industry and know that your products are harming humans, yet are unsure what to do? You’re interested in humane digital design but aren’t sure what that would entail. You’d especially like to protect the young to ensure they grow and succeed. Working in collaboration with clinicians and teachers would give you ideas and goals needed to achieve safe and enriching digital products. I can help you.
Are you a researcher working in the area of impact of screen technology on children yet are unaware of the current gaps in research? Do you consult with clinicians and teachers regularly to hear ‘from the trenches’ regarding salient concerns? Did you know there are 5 developmental domains for children: physical, mental, emotional, social and cognitive which all require research attention? One area of immediate concern which lacks adequate research is short- and long-term effects of high blood pressure and heart rate associated with early and chronic video game use. I can help you.
I’m a pediatric occupational therapist, biologist, international speaker and author of Virtual Child book and Moving to Learn blog and have worked in the area of screen management for over 30 years in home, school, clinic and community settings. I’ve collated > 600 research articles into a topically organized Fact Sheet demonstrating impact of screens on humans, and used this research as a foundation for a 3-day certification course for teachers and clinicians in Balanced Technology Management.
BTM instructor course certification provides the following skills and qualifications for participants who complete the 3-day course and pass requisite tests imbedded in webinar:
- Continuing Education Units through AOTA Approved Provider Program.
- Qualification to become team leaders to reproduce webinar content through provision of research information, Tech Tool Kit (45 reproduceable handouts for clinicians, teachers and parents), and a 2-hour power point slide deck they can present to parents, schools, clinics, or workplaces.
- Qualification to supervise the school or community based Screenbuster Program which trains and qualifies teens to give Tech Talks to peers.
Through switching focus from screen reduction to managed balance between screens and healthy activities, we can effectively and safely move forward with fun and pain free initiatives to enhance human health and wellbeing in homes, schools, workplaces and communities. There is a lot of work to do and forming diverse and dedicated teams is essential and long overdue.
I’m pleased to announce my new consultation and training website Cris Rowan. I invite you to work together with me and my colleagues to immediately enact initiatives in all domains of life to ensure sustainable futures for all of humanity. You can reach me at crowan@crisrowan.com.