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 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.

Share This Article

Follow On Social Media

Recent Articles

Technology and Children

Playgrounds – The epicentre for child development, behaviour and learning

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.

Technology and Children

The profound consequences of AI’s attack on critical thinking.

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.

Education

THE BRIEF – Creating Sustainable Futures

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.