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The ways in which we are raising and educating children with technology are no longer sustainable. Includes ten step plan to ensure sustainable futures for all children

 

By Cris Rowan 

  

"The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children."
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

Mounting research indicates technology is harming our children, yet adults continue to adamantly support unrestricted use. A frequent scene in today's culture is adults attached to devices and detached from their children. These often neglected children display a variety of problematic behaviors, which are increasingly diagnosed as mental illness, with the unfortunate ones placed on often dangerous psychotropic medications. Sad, mad, and bad, detached children form unhealthy attachments with the 'constant' in their lives...technology, which they are presently overusing to the tune of 4-6 times the expert recommended amounts.

  

Click to Read More and/or Comment 

  

Cris in the News
Handheld devices, a detriment for kids?
Interview with Cris Rowan by Charles Alder for CJOB 680 in Winnipeg MB on March 11, 2014

Interview with Cris Rowan by John Gormley for News Talk 650 in Saskatoon, SK on March 11, 2014.

How are digital devices affecting our children's health
Interview with Cris Rowan and Lloyd Morgan, Senior Science fellow at Environmental Health Trust by Holly Kernan and Ali budner for KALW 91 in San Fran, CA on March 12, 2014

Life with kids - Parenting, not technology, at issue in screen time debate
Interview with Cris Rowan by Chad Lucas for Halifax Herald on March 16, 2014
Rowan claims that 60 per cent of parents don't supervise their kids' screen time closely enough. Guess what? That's not a technology issue. That's a parenting issue.

New Book! Learning in a Digitalized Age: Plugged in, turned on, totally engaged? 

Cris Rowan authored one chapter in a new book edited by Lawrence Burke which seeks a critical and informed answer to one of the most important educational question of the day: how successful will learners be in the digital age?


Technology and Children: The good and the bad
Interview with Cris Rowan by Matthew AbdulHaqq Niemi for Radio Islam 1450 Chicago IL on March 20, 2014
Foundation Series Workshop Schedule
 
April 3, 4, 2014 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Keynote speaker and workshop presenter at annual Autism Conference on the impact of technology on children sponsored by UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's Hospital. 

Contact person: Tiffany Cook

[email protected],  319-368-5742

 

August 24, 2014 - Kelowna, BC
Workshop for professionals sponsored by Early Learning, Literacy CMOS & UBCO, SD No. 23 

Contact person: Donna Kozak

[email protected]  250-718-5332

Research and News Review
  

Patterns of Mobile Device Use by Caregivers and Children During Meals in Fast Food Restaurants 

By Radesky J. et al for Pediatrics on March 10, 2014

Study determined a range of patterns of mobile device use, characterized by varying degrees of absorption. These themes may be used as a foundation for coding schemes in quantitative studies exploring device use and child outcomes.

 

EMF radiation decreases sperm motility and causes sperm DNA fragmentation in humans

By Avendano, C et al for Fertility and Sterility January 2012; 97(1): 39-45.

Ex vivo exposure of human spermatozoa to a wireless internet-connected laptop decreased motility and induced DNA fragmentation by a nonthermal effect. Authors speculate that keeping a laptop connected wirelessly to the internet on the lap near the testes may result in decreased male fertility.

 

Fetal Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure from 800-1900 Mhz-Rated Cellular Telephones Affects Neurodevelopment and Behavior in Mice
By Aldad, TS et al for Nature: Scientific Reports. 2012; 2(312): 1-7
In-utero exposure to cell phone radiation in mice, caused frontal cortex change, hyperactivity, and impaired memory. 

 

Pooled analysis of case-control studies on acoustic neuroma diagnosed 1997-2003 and 2007-2009 and use of mobile and cordless phones

By Hardell, L et al for International Journal of Oncology 2013: 43(4); 1036-1044
The percentage tumour volume increased per year of latency and per 100 h of cumulative use, statistically significant for analogue phones. This study confirmed previous results demonstrating an association between mobile and cordless phone use and acoustic neuroma.

 

Published Science Leads to the Conclusion that Cell and Cordless Phone Use Causes Hearing Nerve Tumors 

By L. Lloyd Morgan Senior Science fellow at Environmental Health Trust on October 5, 2013

Compilation of research documenting causality between cell phone radiation and acoustic tumors.

 

American Academy of Pediatrics cites 3 reasons to reinvestigate EMF radiation impact on children
On August 29, 2013, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), comment on the Proposed Rule "Reassessment of Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Limits and Policies" published in the Federal Register on June 4, 2013. 

 

Grey Matters: Too much screen time damages the brain 

By Dr. Victoria Dunckley M.D. in Psychology Today Mental Wealth on February 27, 2014

Studies show internet addiction is associated with structural and functional changes in brain regions involving emotional processing, executive attention, decision making, and cognitive control

 

American Academy of Pediatrics, Policy Statement, Children, Adolescents, and the Media, Council on Communications and Media

The American Academy of Pediatrics' new guidelines advise no technology for 0-2 year, 1 hour/day for 3-5, and 2 hours per day for 6-18 years. The AAP also advise against TVs or Internet access in children's bedrooms.

 

The Immediate Impact of Different Types of Television on Young Children's Executive Function

By Lillard AS and Peterson J for Pediatrics on September 12, 2011

Just 9 minutes of viewing a fast-paced television cartoon had immediate negative effects on 4-year-olds' executive function. Parents should be aware that fast-paced television shows could at least temporarily impair young children's executive function. This research replicates previous research by Dimitri Christakis in published in 2011.

 

Electronic Screen Syndrome - An unrecognized disorder? 

By Dr. Victoria Dunckley M.D. in Psychology Today Mental Wealth on July 23, 2012

"He's revved up all the time."
"He can't focus at all and is totally defiant. Getting ready for school or bedtime is a daily nightmare."
"She's exhausted and has meltdowns even when she's slept enough." 
"He flies into a rage over the slightest thing. The other kids don't want to play with him anymore." 
"Her grades have gone downhill this year and we don't know why."

 

It's not bipolar disorder or adhd, but rather too much screen time.

 

Doctor: ADHD does not exist

By Dr. Richard Saul for Time Magazine on March 14, 2014

Dr. Saul states "Over the course of my career, I have found more than 20 conditions that can lead to symptoms of ADHD, each of which requires its own approach to treatment. Raising a generation of children - and now adults - who can't live without stimulants is no solution."

 

Face to Face Versus Facebook: Does Exposure to Social Networking Web Sites Augment or Attenuate Physiological Arousal Among the Socially Anxious? 

RauchShannon M. et al for Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. March 2014, 17(3): 187-190

Results were consistent with the augmentation hypothesis: a prior exposure on Facebook will lead to increased arousal during a face-to-face encounter, particularly for those high in social anxiety.

 

The anxiety of unplugging and why we should all disconnect to reconnect 

By Tanya Schevitz, spokesperson for Reboot's National Day of Unplugging

Interview with clinical psychologist Catherine Steiner-Adair, author of The Big Disconnect, studies why it's so hard for us to disregard the digital disruptions around us.

 

Google faces legal action over in-app purchases 

In BBC News on March 11, 2014

Google is facing legal action from parents in the US angry over purchases their children have made in games without their consent.

 

Young Kids, Old Bodies 

By Alice Park for Time Magazine on March 3, 2014

Due to obesity, and consequent diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, children are aging rapidly, and are the first generation of children some of whom won't outlive their parents.

Events

  

participACTION Unplug and Play week March 24-30, 2014 
 
As part of its national campaign to Bring Back Play, ParticipACTION is asking Canadian families to Unplug & Play for 60 minutes a day from March 24-30.  Active play is fun and fundamental to every child's physical, cognitive, emotional and social development.   Play also allows kids to try new things, test boundaries and use their imaginations. 
 
Here are some ParticipACTION Unplug & Play story ideas:
 
 
Digital Detox Weekend - Unplug and get your life back! May 23-25, 2014
Take a break from looking at your phone, and look at the people right in front of you.  
 
Sky Meadows Retreat Center, Stannard, VT 
 
Contact Offie Worthan, PhD [email protected] 479-3339
Websites

  

Active for Life
Being physically literate is the foundation for being successful in sport and in life. Physical literacy gives active kids the best chance at becoming top-level athletes who may someday compete in high-performance sport. It also results in them leading an active life. And as the word "literacy" implies, just like reading, writing and arithmetic, movement skills need to be taught.

Ooeygooey 

Ooey Gooey, Inc. is dedicated to the creation of child-centered, hands-on, play-based environments for young children and provides workshops, training, technical support and curriculum resources to those who wish the same.


participACTION

Bringing Canadians together and uniting them under the banner of creating a nation where physical activity is a vital part of everyday life - that is the future ParticipACTION envisions.


Inspiring Stories

  

Athlete Interview - Nicholas Doan of Great Oak 

Published by DyeStatCAL on March 18, 2014

Nicholas Doan, an upcoming track star, talks about his video game addiction and how he overcame it and moved into competitive sports. Inspiring message for our young gaming community.


Call for Research Participants

  

Micaela B. Wooldridge, a PhD candidate at University of British Columbia's Human Development, Learning & Culture. Education and Counselling Psychology, & Special Education is calling on parents with children under 3 to participate in a study.
To find out more about this study, please contact Micaela at  [email protected] or visit her website  www.infanttechstudy.ca.

Zone'in Products

Sedentary, neglected, isolated, and overstimulated, the new millennium child can no longer pay attention and learn. Zone'in Products are designed by an occupational therapist to enhance child development and learning, ensuring successful futures.

 

Zone'in - enhancing attention, learning and self-regulation.

Move'in - teaches children to print, the foundation for literacy.

Unplug'in - builds skill and confidence in activities other than technology.

Live'in - media literacy guide for home, school and community.

 

Product Preview  

 

Virtual Child - The terrifying truth about what technology is doing to children

Virtual Child

By Cris Rowan, pediatric occupational therapist.

 
Virtual Child documents the impact technology has had on the developing child, and proposes tools and techniques to manage balance between activities children need for growth and success with technology use. 

Need more info? Visit www.virtualchild.ca

BUY NOW ON Amazon.com 
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About the Author
Cris Rowan is a pediatric occupational therapist committed to enhancing child health and academic performance. Well known activist, speaker, sensory specialist and author, Cris is the "Go To" expert on child learning, development and technology overuse. Cris has provided over 200 workshops for health and education professionals, and is currently developing the Creating Sustainable Futures Program for a First Nations Community.
  
Training & Consultation
 
Training

Instructor training for Foundation Series Workshops places pediatric occupational therapists on the cutting edge as experts in the field of technology's impact on child development.

Zone'in Training


Consultation
Innovative team-based approach to manage balance between activities children need to grow and succeed with technology use.

Cris Rowan is now offering private phone/Skype consultations. 

Care to Donate?
 
Zone'in Programs Inc. and Cris Rowan are seeking your support and assistance to ensure sustainable and productive futures for our children. Find out more about how you can help us!
Contact Us
 
6840 Seaview Rd. Sechelt BC V0N3A4 
Tel: 1-888-896-6346
Fax: 1-877-896-6346
� Zone'in Programs Inc. 2014