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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 5, 2017)
4 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Parents can help manage children’s screen time By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent The speed and manner in which most of us communi- cate today — text, Instagram, Twitter — seems normal, but the access we have to one another in this fast-paced world can be a real challenge for school-aged students and their parents. Summertime might be the perfect time to address these concerns and form some new habits. Earlier this spring, the documentary “Screenagers” was shown at Sisters High School as an outreach to par- ents in understanding how to better guide their kids in the age of ever-present screens. Among other things, the documentary shines some light on some of the pitfalls of instant media, especially for teenagers, including texting, sexting, and bullying, in addi- tion to video game and phone addiction. Just last month three teen- agers in Eugene were charged with crimes for sharing nude photos and videos over social media of female students at North Eugene High School. The instant-ness and ease of sharing personal and very private information can cause real trouble for those bent on trouble as well as for those who are not mature enough to handle the phone in their hands. In addition to the dark side of harassment and bullying through social media, there is a great concern about the overuse of screened devices as well as the content that young people are expos- ing themselves to, including sexually explicit and violent material. Parents often find themselves in real battles with their children when attempt- ing to separate them from their beloved screens. Experts agree that for parents, an informed, even- handed approach with clear, reasonable guidelines is what most teenagers need most, when it comes to being responsible digital citizens and to staying safe in a world saturated by stimulating information. The “Screenagers” website has a vast array of resources for parents. One of the resources on the “Screenagers” website (www.screenagersmovie. com) includes suggestions of how to make a family screen- time agreement. This is a con- tract among family members focused on the house rules of screen access. For example, some families decide to put out a basket in the entryway to the house for phones to be placed after school or at din- nertime, where they remain until homework, chores, and dinner are finished. Other families have a “lights-out” rule during which the phone is turned off or disabled at bedtime. The concept is to have agreed-upon guide- lines to avoid overuse and to also lessen the likelihood of disagreements. Although many Americans want to deny the possibil- ity, addiction to screens, particularly when it comes to video games, is a grow- ing concern among mental- health professionals. The content of what children are able to access is an additional issue that requires diligence — and even intervention — since violent and adult content is just a click away if parental controls are not employed. PBS Newshour pro- duced a show last year titled “The drug-like effect of screen time on the teenage brain” which is still avail- able online. It references the Screenagers documentary in regard to the addictiveness of phones, games, and social media in general. Doctors and neuroscientists are find- ing more and more evidence of the potential for harmful effects due to overexposure to screens. (Find the link with the online version of this story at www.nuggetnews.com.) The “Screenagers” website has a vast array of resources for parents, including apps for monitoring and block- ing smart phones, informa- tion about digital citizenship, research on this topic, the impact on sleep, and non- technology alternatives to engage teens. Summertime in Sisters Country affords countless alternatives to being in front of a screen, but it may take some planning, persuad- ing, pulling, and pushing by parents to get things mov- ing. Left unattended, young people might spend hours and hours locked onto a screen when they could be enjoying the outdoors, reading, work- ing at a job, volunteering, or partaking in non-screen play. Parents are advised to develop a game plan before speaking to their teenager about screen time. Kids are so accustomed to having free and constant access to their phone, games and consoles that they tend to be “battle- ready” when it is suggested that they limit their use or are asked to exert more self- control. A firm, but gentle, sharing of concern followed by a reasonable plan of action can work well. Writing down the agreement is essential. Parents are encouraged to check their own use, or over- use as the case may be, of screen time for their own sake and so as to not appear com- pletely hypocritical. Sharing with other par- ents in a sort of “support group” fashion can be effec- tive as well. This is a hot topic that many parents are very concerned about, but are of uncertain how to approach. There’s something special about gathering around a glowing fi re! e!! NuggetNews.com is your online source for Breaking News Classifieds | Weather Road Reports One-of-a-kind, custom ironwork hand-forged right here in Sisters We have many fi re pits to choose from! 541-549-9280 | 207 W. Sisters Park Dr. | PonderosaForge.com | CCB# 87640 SISTERS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Let me fi gure out what can help with your “mystery” health complaints. 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