Let's Start with the Brain

• Rapid brain development from ages 1-3 and again in adolescents
• Ages 4-7 begins to separate real from imaginary, increases communication of needs, increases in empathy due to group experiences
• Ages 8-12 development of reasoning, perception, planning, and working memory (improves)

Let's Start with the Brain

• 8-12 years of age, a sense of self is developing
• Pre-adolescents, ,judgment/ reasoning, and abstract thought ability is forming
• Increase in physical development requires additional sleep, exercise, and nutrition
• Brain develops best with repeated experiences (both group and individual)

The Brain and Technology

• Decreases ability to focus, and concentrate,
• Impedes critical neural development and problem solving skills due to "neural short cuts" and the "google effect"
• Impact on reading body language, tone of voice, and reading a situation
• Affects the empathy connection

The Brain and Technology

• Increases internalization of the expectation of an immediate stimuli response
• Increase in heightened responses can Impact immune and nervous system responses
• Disruption of healthy sleep cycles
• The more you use the more you want/need to

What does the research say?

• In the past decade there has been a 28% increase in doctor diagnosed anxiety and depression
• In 2016 universities reported 62% of students reported anxiety levels were impacting their daily life (up 18% /1995)
• Anxiety is the number one reason children and teens are seeking counseling support

The APA and American Academy of Pediatrics both state the correlation between moderate and severe technology use with the increase in anxiety and depression symptoms

Your Nervous System On Technology...

Two things are happening...

• The Limbic system is being flooded with frequent intense stimuli, both visual (including peripheral, 360 and 1st person) and cognitive
• Technology is then used to avoid any discomfort or uncertainty
• The instrument used to relieve stress becomes the cause

Beyond Anxiety...

• Disconnection and Exclusion
• Increased Negative Moods
• Lowered Ability to See Different Perspectives
• Emotional Intelligence Delayed
• Avoidance of Uncertainty and Discomfort
• Illusion of Friendships, Trust, and Connection

What does this mean for your family?

Balance, Education, Communication

Untitled Slide

• It starts with YOU
• Set screen limits that you agree on together
• Screen limits with a purpose
• Keep the lines of communication open
• Don't lecture, explore
• Be aware of new social media language/games/challenges

Untitled Slide

• Set family agreements together (no phones at dinner time, 2 hour before bed etc)
• Be involved, use apps that you can use together When removing technology, enter into the activity to connect
• Consider natural consequences rather than simply taking devices away

Fortnite

APA and American Academy of Pediatrics reports a correlation between violence in video games and an increase in aggressive thoughts and behavior

Screen Addiction?

• Obsessive talk
• Emotional dysregulation when devices are restricted or taken away
• Lack of interest in other activities
• Difficulty connecting to conversation or play when device is near or available

Untitled Slide

• Reconnect with activities
• Teach them to understand marketing ploys and ask questions
• Communicate often about your shared values
• Talk with parents in the friendship group, can there be shared agreements
• Technology detox days
• Be OK with the backlash

To wrap up...

• Educate yourself consistently
• Model what you value and want
• Open, non-judgmental communication
• Explore, don't lecture
• Play the games with them, see what it is about
• Know and understand their brain development and its impact

To wrap up...

• Discuss cyber safety
• Discuss your state's current laws
• Create a family agreement
• Discuss impact of violence of video games
• Discuss and explore real vs imaginary and how the body experiences both