The Digital Environment and the Developing Child – Virtual Parent Ed

When is the right time to give my child a device? How much screen time is too much? What do I need to know about gaming? And what kind of education should my child have before entering the digital world?

The developing brain is an interactive work in progress, constantly engaging with the environment and creating a universe of connections that become how we understand ourselves, the world, and our place in the world.

Today, much of that environment comes through screens. From smartphones to tablets, from texting to Snapchat, media technology delivers an endless stream of information, entertainment, and opportunities for communication. This environment is having a profound impact on how our children think about themselves and is changing the way our children socialize and connect.

How do we harness the benefits of this powerful resource without allowing it to shape our children in ways that undermine the values we want to instill?

In this presentation, parents will gain insight into how kids are using and abusing media technology. You’ll leave with practical strategies for setting balanced, realistic guidelines that bring the digital world into alignment with your family’s schedule and values.

The presentation will be given by Sharon Maxwell, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist, author, and educator, and Chelsea Maxwell, Ed.M., an educator specializing in curriculum development. Together, this mother-daughter team has spent more than a decade helping parents, schools, and students navigate the challenges of raising children in a digital world.