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.
I just returned from Anahim Lake, a small community in the Chilcotin area of British Columbia and home to the Ulkatcho First Nations people. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you a journey toward child health and wellness that took place over the course of the past four years and comprised a number of community initiatives.
When I read that Mattel had formed a partnership with OpenAI, I felt a profound sense of dread. As if the technology industry wasn’t making enough money on exploiting children, now they are embedding AI design into toys for toddlers.
No one would dispute the statement that healthcare and education are in trouble. Since the infiltration of screen-based technologies into every home, school, community and workplace setting, indicators for health, wellbeing and performance have plummeted. The ways in which we are raising and educating children with screens are no longer sustainable.