As a pediatric occupational therapist working in schools on the Sunshine Coast, I detected a rise in child developmental delays, mental health disorders and learning disabilities over 30 years ago. Curious, I began to pose the question “How much screen time?” to my students, parents and teachers and noted a correlation. My OT training mandated research evidenced practice, so I looked to the research for answers. What I found so long ago was significant early research showing harm from overuse of TV and video games. I began to collate screen overuse impact research, compiled a Fact Sheet (now contains over 600 screen impact research publications), published my book “Virtual Child“, and started providing workshops for parents and teachers. I originally thought the way to address child screen over use would be adult education. I followed the concept “you can’t do what you don’t know” and honestly thought that if people knew the research showed screens are causing significant harm, and some cases killing children, they would stop using these devices. I was so wrong. I mean…we have laws to prevent harm to children from consuming alcohol or drugs, from driving, from smoking etc. We know these substances are addictive and we have acted appropriately by creating laws which serve to protect our children from harm. Yet parents, teachers and government pull a blind eye to screen addiction and the harms caused to children by screen overuse. It is simply astounding that prolific research exists which demonstrates screens harm children, yet this research evidence is clearly not enough to stop children from using these products.
So, I switched tactics. I now follow the line of thought that educating teens to be peer models and instructors in screen reduction and screen management could prove to be a far more effective strategy to keep our children safe. As the term “screen reduction” often meets with resistance, I developed the concept “Balanced Technology Management” where the focus shifts from screen reduction to increased engagement in healthy activities, in homes, schools and communities. I’ve created a free webinar certification course for teens called “Screenbusters” which trains teens to provide classroom-based Tech Talks for peers and younger children. The Screenbusters are supervised by a certified Balanced Technology Management (BTM)teacher, principal, counsellor, social worker or clinician. As stated earlier, the BTM concept shifts focus from screen reduction to increased engagement in healthy activities, including the 4 critical factors for optimizing child development, behaviour and learning: movement, touch, human connection and nature. The BTM concept can be applied in home, school (classroom, gym, playground) and community-based settings. The BTM 3-day course certificationprovides the instructor with not only all the screen impact research, but also offers numerous techniques and strategies to enhance child development, behavior and learning to ensure optimal child growth and success.
To streamline and ensure high-quality of information dissemination to students, parents and teachers, upon completion of the 3-day webinar course (which has achieved AOTA Approved Provider Status for CEU provision), BTM instructors are provided with a two-hour PowerPoint slide deck created by myself, Cris Rowan, which they in turn present to parents and fellow teachers. BTM certification also provides participants with the Tech Tool Kit which contains 75 pages of reproducible surveys, brochures and handouts. The BTM course ensure that the certified instructors achieve the requisite training necessary to perform these workshops as well as supervise the Screenbuster Program in their own school district. My 35 years of experience working in schools as a child development expert, enables me to offer loads of “tried and true” teaching tools and strategies which are foundational to achieving printing, reading and math literacy. The BTM instructors are tasked with leading technology management teams in their district to enact policies and procedures (like school cell phone bans) that ensure children are getting an education that is research evidenced to be effective which does not cause them harm in the process.
In order to honor school-based teachers and clinicians time restrictions, the Balanced Technology Management for teachers and the Balanced Technology Management for clinicians 3-day certification courses have been discounted $250 for the months of July and August, 2025. Just enter the BTM250CR coupon code after signing up for the course.
You can learn more about Balanced Technology Management webinars by visiting reconnectwebinars.com or email us at info@reconnectwebinars.com. Come join our elite team of changemakers now!
