Beyond the Screen – Working together to create sustainable futures for humanity

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.

Cris Rowen

Cris Rowan, BScOT, BScBi, SIPT

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.

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