Huffington Post shows 1.5 million readers 'liked' this article!

10 Reasons Why Handheld Devices Should Be Banned for Children Under the Age of 12 

 

By Cris Rowan 

  

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Pediatrics state infants aged 0-2 years should not have any exposure to technology, 3-5 years be restricted to one hour per day, and 6-18 years restricted to 2 hours per day (AAP 2001/13, CPS 2010). Children and youth use 4-5 times the recommended amount of technology, with serious and often life threatening consequences (Kaiser Foundation 2010, Active Healthy Kids Canada 2012). Handheld devices (cell phones, tablets, electronic games) have dramatically increased the accessibility and usage of technology, especially by very young children (Common Sense Media, 2013). As a pediatric occupational therapist, I'm calling on parents, teachers and governments to ban the use of all handheld devices for children under the age of 12 years.

  

Click to Read the 10 Reasons and Like, Share or Comment 

Contact person: Jenny McLeod Jenny.McLeod@cradacl.bc.ca 250-203-0488

September 13, 2014 - Dawson Creek BC

Workshop on the impact of technology on children sponsored by South Peace Child Care Resource and Referral.

Contact person: Katherin Charbonneau kcharbonneau@spcrs.ca 1-866-782-1138 ext 221

September 19-22, 2014 - Hong Kong, China

Workshops on impact of technology on corporate productivity and family life sponsored by the Young Presidents Organization.

Contact Person: Timothy Wong twong@ypowpo.org 

September 23, 24, 2014 - Beijing, China
Workshops on impact of technology on corporate productivity and family life sponsored by the Young Presidents Organization and local PTA's.
Contact Person: Emily Chan emilychan222@hotmail.com

October 1, 2014 - Vancouver, BC

Workshop on the impact of technology on children sponsored by Gatehouse Montessori School

Contact Person: Gretchen van Nostrand gretchen@gatehousemontesorri.com 604-925-1437

October 8, 2014 - Vancouver, BC

Workshop for health professionals presented at CHA BC Annual Meeting and Training Session.

Contact Person: Joanne Tardiff joanne@cha-bc.org 1-250-503-1123

October 16, 2014 - Roberts Creek, BC

Workshop on the impact of technology on children sponsored by Sun Haven Waldorf School

Contact Person: Sari Cormack saricormack@gmail.com 604-741-0949

November 16, 2014 - Squamish, BC

Workshop on the impact of technology on children sponsored by Quest University

Contact person: Luce Melancon luce.melancon@questu.ca 1-888-883-7808

February 5, 6, 2015 - Rivers Inlet, BC

Workshops on self-regulation, literacy, technology balance, and attachment, sponsored by Vancouver Coastal Health grant

Contact person: Kevin Gianakos kgianakos@sd49.bc.ca 1-250-949-8881

March 6, 2015 - Vancouver, BC

Workshop on school design for success sponsored by Cross Currents Special Education Conference

Contact person: Mary Berg seaspeakers@gmail.com 

Detoxing & Unplugging

Link me, Like me, Follow me......do you need a digital detox? 

By Steve Bodycomb July 28, 2014 for RSA

80 per cent of people would rather go without a car, chocolate or alcohol than be without their digital device for a day according to a recent report. Now I don't know about you but when someone can't go without something, or suffer acute withdrawal from lack of its use, I'd call it an addiction.

Canadians on holiday: we smell but at least we're unplugged
By Jim Byers, August 12 2014

Study by hotels.com finds that Canadians are more willing to leave their mobile devices at home while on vacation than many other countries. We also are less likely to exaggerate our experiences. On the other hand, we place deodorant ninth on our "must pack" list.

How to Digitally Detox This Summer
By Lori Castle, August 12, 2014

Connectivity has become an addiction and there is even a name for it-nomophobia. Not yet formally recognized, there is, however, a proposal out to include it in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Data Point: That's a Lot of People to Say They "Never" Unplug
By Brian R. Fitzgerald August 15, 2014 Wall Street Journal
One in five people did say they unplugged daily. Just don't expect it from young adults aged 18-24, who were the least likely to unplug at all. Kids between the ages of 13 and 18, however, unplugged daily nearly as often as people 55 and older. (Chalk that up to the parents?)

Child Development

Research shows negative effect marijuana has on development of teens 

By Dave Delozier for Channel3000.com 

"What we see is that increased marijuana use, especially daily use, is associated with cognitive problems like slowed processing speed, poor complex attentions"

New Stanford research sheds light on how children's brains memorize facts  

Stanford University Medical Center press release August 17, 2014

As children learn basic arithmetic, they gradually switch from solving problems by counting on their fingers to pulling facts from memory. The shift comes more easily for some kids than for others, but no one knows why.

Now, new brain-imaging research gives the first evidence drawn from a longitudinal study to explain how the brain reorganizes itself as children learn math facts. A precisely orchestrated group of brain changes, many involving the memory center known as the hippocampus, are essential to the transformation, according to a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine. 

Children with autism have extra brain synapses
Published on ABC Science August 22, 2014
Children with autism have extra synapses in their brain due to a slowdown in the normal brain "pruning" process during development, say US neuroscientists.
They found a drug that restores synaptic pruning also reverses autistic-like behaviours in mice, they report in the journal Neuron.

Childhood Disability

Changing Trends of Childhood Disability, 2001-2011  

By Amy J. Houtrow, Kandyce Larson, Lynn M. Olson, Paul W. Newacheck and Neal Halfon. Published online August 18, 2014

Over the past half century the prevalence of childhood disability increased dramatically, coupled with notable increases in the prevalence of mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. This study provides a detailed assessment of recent trends in childhood disability in relation to health conditions and sociodemographic factors. 

Social Media & Mobile Technology

World's first creche for technology and car keys to get families connecting

New Forrest National Park Website July 22, 2014

The world's first Tech Crèche has been launched to offer visitors a proper family day out, leaving their car and technology behind.

A domestic battle is raging in millions of UK households, with seven in 10 children believing their parents are constantly glued to their mobile devices, whilst six in 10 parents believe their kids are doing the same thing, according to new research released today. Unsurprisingly, a quarter of kids feel their parents have double standards about the issue. 

Learn about ways to use technology responsibly with young children.

"Mobilize" nominated for best documentary!!!
Along with filmmaker Kevin Kunze, Dr. Devra Davis (Environmental Health Trust; www.ehtrust.org), and Dr. Joel Moskowitz (UC Berkeley Dept of Public Health; www.saferemr.com), Ellie Marks and her son Zack, have been working on a full length documentary on cell phone radiation for many years. This has been a labor of love dedicated to those we know that are suffering or have perished "more likely than not" from cell phone radiation.

Opportunity to define cyberbullying 

A group of researchers in Washington State are a doing a study about cyberbullying.  This study includes investigators with backgrounds in health, education, social work and the law.  Their goal is to develop a consensus on cyberbullying across different disciplines.  The project is funded by the National Institute of Justice.  As part of this research study they are doing a short survey asking for input on how best to define cyberbullying. The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete.  All of answers will be anonymous.

Parenting while distracted
By Jane Scott, Special to The Washington Post August 11, 2014

I've been a pediatrician for 20 years, and I thought I'd seen it all. But not long ago, when a father brought his 2-year-old into my clinic, something happened that has me deeply concerned.
 

Children Face Highest Health Risk From Cell Phones
By Roxanne Nelson August 19, 2014
The potential harm from microwave radiation (MWR) given off by wireless devices, particularly for children and unborn babies, is the highlight of a new review.

Educational Technology

Can after-school programs help shrink the 'opportunity gap' for low-income students? 

PBS News Hour aired July 29, 2014

At Middle School 223 in the Bronx, the fun starts at the end of the regular day. All sixth graders are offered extracurricular activities like African drumming, latin dance and chess, plus personalized help in reading and math. John Tulenko of Learning Matters Television reports on the growing interest in extending the school day with special programs. 

Would greater independence for teachers result in higher student performance?

PBS News Hour aired August 18, 2014

In the face of a top-down hierarchy ruling many public schools these days, some teachers are taking back their classrooms by moving to schools where they create the curriculum and vote democratically on decisions. John Tulenko of Learning Matters reports from Boston on one of about 70 teacher-led schools that have cropped up around the country in recent years.

Tools & Techniques

Five ways to ease the family stress of a child with a mental-health challenge 

By Peter Szatmari August 17, 2014 for The Globe and Mail

Raising a child with a mental-health challenge, an addiction or a developmental disability can be very stressful. Feelings of stress can erupt at any moment; at the grocery store, family gatherings, meetings with teachers.  

Increase Productivity, Decrease Procrastination, and Increase Energy 

By Erik Peper et al. Institute for Holistic Health Studies, Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University in Biofeedback, Volume 42, Issue 2, pp. 82-87 DOI: 10.5298/1081-5937-42.2.06

Procrastination, self-blame, and unproductive behavior are widespread problems in student populations and in human beings generally. The authors present a framework, called Transforming Failure into Success, which is utilized in undergraduate classes and based on self-observation, self-acceptance, and mental rehearsal of positive changes.

Core Strengthening Exercises For Kids
Published 18th, March 2014 on the Inspired Treehouse

Core strengthening isn't just for adults.  Kids need to have a strong foundation of strength in the center of their bodies too.  Core strength fosters all kinds of developmental skills from bilateral coordination, posture, and stability to balance and endurance.  All of these skills build on one another, contributing to strong gross and fine motor skills and promoting healthy child development.  
 

Video Games

Electronic Gaming and Psychosocial Adjustment  

By Andrew K. Przybylski Published on-line August 4, 2014

Dr. Przybylski recently published a paper in Pediatrics in a study of over 5000 kids showing that less than 1 hour of gaming per day is beneficial, but the benefits are lost when it's 3 hours of gaming per day! Again, moderation is the key! 

Miscellaneous

Why You Should Run Away from Your Problems
The research is in: Exercise works, better than anything else. 

By Victoria L. Dunckley, M.D. July 26, 2014 in Mental Wealth

While physicians and other mental health clinicians regularly recommend exercise to combat depression, we don't always know how much or what kind will make a difference.

Great Snakes and Short Boys
By Stephen Spitalny August 12, 2014 Chamakanda Blogs
I think about stories, meditate about them, dream about them, and sometimes am inspired by sudden flashes of insight. I collect fairy tales and folk tales and read them and re-read them. 

Want your child to do well at school? Eat dinners as a family: Sitting together at meal times boosts concentration and social skills 

By Pat Hagan August 6, 2014
Psychologists studied families with children aged six to eleven.  They found they concentrated more at school, acquired better social skills and got into less trouble as teens if they took part in family meals
But this needs to happen at least four times a week to have a benefit. Research suggests less than a third of families sit down to dinner together.