May 7, 2021
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In this episode, Jean Rogers, Director of the Children's Screen Time Action Network, and I talk about children's well-being, ways to maximize your family's screen-free time together, and fun resources for celebrating Screen-Free Week.
Jean and I talked about The Social Dilemma (documentary) in Ep. 159 of the podcast. You can listen to that episode here.
Jean Rogers is the Director of the Children’s Screen Time Action Network, where she leads a coalition of practitioners, educators, advocates, and parents who collaborate on practical methods to reduce children’s time on screens and digital devices, mitigate the dangers, and preserve childhood in the digital age. Jean is the host of Action Network Live!, a webcast bringing experts to parents on how screens impact all aspects of child development. She writes a weekly blog and speaks widely to parents, teachers and activists, empowering them to implement simple solutions to a complex 21st century parenting challenge.
Jean earned Masters’ degrees in Education and Parenting Education at Wheelock College, where she took up the mantel of Susan Linn and Diane Levin, trailblazers in media literacy, play-based learning, and avoiding a commercialized childhood. Prior to working at the Action Network, Jean was a freelance marketing writer, illuminating products and services for nonprofit and business clients. She was also a music teacher, director of a large church school, and a college writing center consultant. Her greatest role is mother to 5 children.
Screen-Free Week is an annual invitation to play, explore, and rediscover the joys of life beyond ad-supported screens. During the first week of May, thousands of families, schools, and communities around the world will put down their entertainment screens for seven days of fun, connection, and discovery.
Even though it’s about turning off screens, Screen-Free Week isn’t about going without – it’s about what you can get! An hour once dedicated to YouTube becomes an hour spent outside; ten minutes whiled away on social media turn into ten minutes spent doodling; a movie on a rainy afternoon is replaced by time spent reading, chatting, or playing pretend!
You can celebrate Screen-Free Week at home, in your school, in your community, or anywhere – just put down those entertainment screens and do literally anything else! You might be surprised at what you find.
Resources for Families & Individuals
Salsa & Sunshine Walk & Talk #7 (Screen-Free Week)
9 Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults
Ep. 159: The Social Dilemma with Jean Rogers
[Encore] Ep. 116: Why We Need to Unplug to Connect with our Families
Ep. 96: Unplugged & Happy at Camp
Ep. 35: Unplugging Your Family with Jill Stribling
Ep. 17: Unplugged Middle School Lunch with Rebecca Gogel
Why We Need to Unplug to Connect with Our Families
Ep. 7: Family Pace and Space with Sara Kuljis
Raise Thriving Kids Workshop Wait List