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 has spent the last 35 years working as a pediatric occupational therapist in homes, schools and clinic settings. In 2004 Cris began collating screen impact research into a topically organized Fact Sheet with now over 600 research referenced articles. Cris started her research-referenced blog Moving to Learn for parents, teachers and clinicians in 2005 writing about timely, provocative and controversial topics related to screen overuse/addiction. Cris’s Fact Sheet research was foundational for her Foundation Series Workshops as well as for publishing her book in 2010 “Virtual Child – The terrifying truth about what technology is doing to children”. To date Cris has provided over 450 workshops for students, parents, teachers and clinicians under Zone’in Programs. During Covid in 2019/20 she converted these workshops into 75 hours of instructional webinars now available on Reconnect Webinars. All webinars have AOTA Approved Provider Status for CEU provision. Since 2018 Cris has been an integral member of Fair Play – Screens in Schools committee launching the comprehensive Action Kit for teachers in 2024. Cris’s OT services in BC First Nations schools was integral for developing her revolutionary Screenbusters Program where she trained students to provide ”Tech Talks” for their peers in classrooms. Screenbusters is a free, online, 5-hour certification for teens who are supervised by certified Balanced Technology Management staff. All of Cris’s above achievements are research-referenced, strategy focused and evidence-based. You can reach Cris at crowan@reconnectwebinars.com or book a consultation at CrisRowan.com.
1. Not Safe
The internet is rife with harmful content including violence, sex, self harm, racism, hate/rage bait; internet exposes children to pedophiles, trafficking, cyberbullying, drugs.
2. Addictive
1 in 11 children meet criteria for internet addiction; addictive devices should be banned. schools don’t give children “just a little” cocaine.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said great minds talk about ideas, average minds talk about events, and small minds talk about people. I wonder what Eleanor would say about today’s state of human conversation?
We are all addicted to screens, to a varying extent but this constant craving a device that no longer serves us begs further thought. All alone, separated from those we love, we’ve become misers holding onto a piece of plastic that gives us nothing but chaos and grief.