Zone’in Christmas Carol

The Twelve Years of Christmas Tech…NOT!

Parents everywhere are struggling with Santa lists loaded with tech toys this Christmas, and not wanting to disappoint, many are caving to pressure from their children to give them what everyone else is getting (or so they say)…Christmas Tech. With research showing significant harm from tech, especially to young children (See Cris’s article), and no research showing it is safe, proceeding with caution regarding tech purchases this Christmas is advised. The staff at Zone’in Programs Inc. have comprised a video clip called “The Twelve Days of Christmas Tech” to dissuade you from purchasing tech this Christmas, as well as have comprised a list of exciting, joyous, and fun non-tech gifts which your children might grow to like even more than tech! Your children will love you for not defaulting to tech this Christmas, maybe not this year, but definitely in years to come.

Music: instruments, lessons, concert tickets/posters, music editing equipment, high quality speakers.

Literacy: books, book lights, magazine subscriptions, journals for writing their own stories.

Art: sketch pads, colored pencils/felt pens/chalk/crayons, coloring books, custom T-shirt or hat with child’s art work or favorite photo, tickets to theatre, Sat date to an art show.

Thinking: brain teaser games, board games, puzzles, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, Rubik Cube.

Hobbies: sports card collections, recipe book, scrap book essentials, redeemable coupons, collector’s items (figurines, cards, comic books).

Sports: basketball and hoop, swing in yard, Frisbee, disc golf, hammock, Go Pro camera, ski pass, sporting event tickets, snow shoes, ice skates, baseball/bat/mit, soccer ball/net.

Environment: bean bag chair, glo lite, tent, bed canopy, paint bedroom.

Parent Passes: give a pass for a special time with parent/aunt/uncle/Grandma/Grandpa/cousin e.g. dinner out, sports event, theatre, art show, shopping, circus, zoo, aquarium.

Best Wishes
to All from
Zone’in Staff
2014

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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