To keep up to date with information and resources, like us on our Digital Citizenship Facebook Page.
Kimberly Leiske, Elementary School Counselor
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How is the quality of your sleep each evening? Recent studies have shown that it takes longer for the brain to calm down and fall asleep if one is watching television or using a screened device for up to two hours before going to bed. Dr. Louise Foley at the University of Auckland, New Zealand initiated a long term study suggesting that reducing screen time before bed is a positive strategy to help children fall asleep and receive sufficient amounts of sleep. Engaging in any sort of screen time causes brain arousal making it difficult for the brain to calm down. The blue light from screens influences circadian rhythms which affects falling asleep. For children, sleep is one of the most important aspects of growth and development as it assists in the emotional, mental and physical growth. An accumulation of sleepless hours can add up to detrimental consequences in behavior patterns, increased aggression or hyperactivity. When the entire family commits to eliminating screen time during the calming down hours of the evening, everyone is able to have a better sleep.
To keep up to date with information and resources, like us on our Digital Citizenship Facebook Page. Kimberly Leiske, Elementary School Counselor
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A recent psychology study from the University of California at Los Angeles indicates that children’s social skills and ability to read emotions are declining. With the increase of social media and screen time in their daily lives, children have less face-to-face interaction and therefore fewer opportunities to practice positive social and emotional cues. Common Sense Media reports that the average twelve year-old sends text messages, watches television or plays video games for four and a half hours during an average weekday. For these reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics advocates the use of "screen-free zones" to prevent the use of electronic devices in certain areas of the home. The AAP also recommend that children take part in no more than one to two hours of entertainment media per day. Children under the age of two should not be exposed to entertainment media at all. Listen to the broadcast from NPR (National Public Radio) on the importance of limiting children’s screen time and how parents working in technology companies are setting an example. To keep up to date on information and resources, like us on our Digital Citizenship Facebook Page. Kimberly Leiske- Elementary School Counselor Grade 5 students have recently launched Bring Your Own Educational Device (B.Y.O.E.D) to their classrooms this week. This privilege allows grade 5 students to use their personal ipad, computer or telephone device in the classroom for educational purposes. Learning how to navigate positively online is a large undertaking and requires the opportunity to make appropriate choices on the internet while communicating responsibly with peers. In addition, it allows the students to initiate their own learning inquiry both at school and at home. As digital immigrants who are adapting to technology later in life, parents may often be unfamiliar with this learning approach and may require some guidelines to help coach their children when being responsible online. The Family Online Safety Institute and Platform for Good have created Tech For Success, a useful guide to help initiate conversations regarding the navigation of the online world. Download yours today and learn to discover what success with technology means to you and your family. To keep up to date information and resources, like us on our Digital Citizenship Facebook Page. Have iPads replaced conversation at the dinner table? What do infants observe when their parents are on their smartphones? Should you be your child's Facebook friend? These are all questions that are asked in the world today, questions which adults (also known as digital immigrants) would not be asking themselves a generation ago. Everyday life is undergoing a massive transformation and the digital world is here to stay. Renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair explains that families are in crisis around this issue, and even more so than they realize. Her latest book, The Big Disconnect identifies the current reality of our lives, family and relationships as we are focused on the glow of the screen. This excellent read reminds us that it is time to look with fresh eyes and an open mind at the disconnection we are experiencing from our extreme device dependence. It's never too late to put down the iPad and come to the dinner table. Reading this book (or listening to the Audible version of the book) will help raise your awareness to the digital issues your children face today. Having this knowledge will help your children to be even more accountable to their online boundaries. Books can be ordered on Amazon (available for your Kindle and Audible version as well) or found at bookstores throughout Dubai. To keep up to date on information and resources, like us on our Digital Citizenship Facebook Page. Kimberly Leiske- ES School Counselor With the increase of digital devices and social media options, students may often interact with their friends and peers through the use of photographs on Instagram or Snapchat. They can find creative ways to use apps or social media sites. However, before we know it, a "digital drama" can be created and become larger than was intended. Embarrassing or awkward photos that are sent without a friend’s permission could be a violation of trust and destroy friendships. Being on top of the digital drama is the only way forward. Pay attention to photographs that your child may be sharing with his/her friends through social media sites. It is also important to ensure your child knows how to ask permission before uploading someone’s picture. If someone uploads an unflattering photo of your child without their permission, encourage them to kindly ask the person who posted the photo to take it down. Working out digital dramas face to face is always best. To keep up to date with information and resources, like us on our Digital Citizenship Facebook Page. Kimbery Leiske, GWA Elementary School Counselor Completing school work on electronic devices becomes more difficult when it is so easy to multitask and socialize at the same time. Smartphones and tablets have blurred the concept of screen time and screen time limits within our daily lives. Completing a homework task relies on the cognitive demands of the brain, while multitasking uses different neural circuits covering more than one territory of the brain. For example, watching a You Tube video and writing about a novel study demand completely different brain processes requiring more time to shift back and forth from these brain processes. Research has shown that homework today generally contains more mistakes with a lack of deep and reflective thinking because of these multitasking demands. Dr. Michael Rich, from Boston’s Children’s Hospital, offers a few suggestions to help parents understand the importance of social and educational screen time limits.
Did the summer months involve more free time, unstructured routines and a lot more screen time than normal? According to the Harris Interactive Poll, half of all parents witness their children watching more television, playing more video games, and surfing the web over the summer months. Bringing back the rules after summer is something every family starts to think about as students return back to school. Common Sense Media offers ideas and advice which can help make the back to school routine much simpler after the summer holidays.
Looking for travel entertainment for long plane rides or road trips for your children this summer? Common Sense Media has organized a variety of educational apps for children to help integrate fun and learning at the same time. Check out the many math applications organized for children ages 3 -13. These applications consist of fun interactions addressing concepts such as counting, fractions, multiplication, division and algebra. And if your child’s math skills are sharp, check out the interactive games supporting kindness and compassion. These applications are created for children ages 2-16 and bring fun into real life situations such such as friendship, conflict resolution, emotional awareness and role models. All applications are free, fun and Common Sense Media approved. Have a great summer and safe travels.
For more information, useful links, practical advice and suggestions ‘like’ our Digital Citizenship Facebook Page. As the countdown to summer is right in front of us, it is common for parents to brainstorm ways to keep their kids active. More importantly, parents often wonder how to prevent their children from losing their reading and writing skills during the break. Caroline Core, parental editor from Common Sense Media, suggests the following tips in order to prevent “the dreaded summer slide”:
Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov, law professor and children’s rights advocate, has created a list, with Platform for Good, of tips and guidelines for parents regarding best practices for the use of screen time in your home. It may appear daunting at first, however applying them into your household will make a positive impact on your children’s well being.
1. Doctor recommended screen limits: No screen time for children under 2 years old and 1 hour a day for children between 2-5 years old. For children over 5 years old – limit screen time to 2 hours a day. 2. Tally up the actual time spent on screens: Log that screen time on a screen time chart so that you can see where you need to act. 3. Proven medical benefits: Excellent reasons to turn off that TV, iPad or other screen: reduce obesity, increase regular sleep, limit behavioral problems, and increase academic performance. 4. Establish electronic curfews or blackouts: With younger kids, unplug the power strip and “Oh no, we have a blackout.” With older kids, you may want to try Break time(an app which allows you to put the Internet on hold on any device) or Time Out (a free app which allows you to program breaks on the computer). Or better yet, go tech-free Fridays or any other day that works for you. 5. Ways to limit screen time: Eliminate background TV, don’t eat in front of the TV, set school day rules and weekend rules, and talk with caregivers to ensure that the same rules are being applied. If your children are growing up in two households, ensure that the same rules are being applied in BOTH households. 6. Provide other alternatives to screens: Pick up a book with real pages, suggest outdoor activities, get on the floor and pull out that Monopoly or Chutes and Ladders board. 7. Set a good example yourself: No texting during dinner, no phone in your hand while driving, no smartphone obsessions or selfies every 30 seconds, etc. 8. Be an active participant: Plan what your child views, watch programs or play games with them, and comment on what you’re watching (more interactive). 9. Encourage active screen time: When they are in front of a screen, have them stretch or do yoga. When it’s a commercial or you take a break from the screen, challenge your kids to see who can do the most jumping jacks, hop on one foot, well you get the picture. (Mayo Clinic) 10. Create a family media agreement: Have everyone agree to the do’s and do not’s of media and technology use. Check out A Platform for Good's online safety contracts. Milovidov, Dr. Elizabeth. "Ways to Manage (and Improve) Your Child’s Screen Time." A Platform for Good. N.p., 22 May 2014. Web. 29 May 2014. For more information, useful links, practical advice and suggestions please ‘like’ our Digital Citizenship Facebook Page. |
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