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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
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APPEAL TRIBUNE
Balancing Children’s
Screen Time
Address: P.O. Box 13009, Salem, OR 97309
Phone: 503-399-6773
Fax: 503-399-6706
Email: sanews@salem.gannett.com
Angie Grove
Willamette Connections Academy
Guest columnist
Pandemic quarantines and social
distancing changed many aspects of ev-
eryday life. Computers, tablets, and
phone screens offer digital connections
to the outside world for families – tele-
commuting, internet grocery shopping,
telemedicine appointments, and dis-
tance education for students accus-
tomed to attending traditional public
schools.
Between remote learning, social
media, video games, and other digital
programs many kids have added ingre-
dients to their digital intake this past
year. Should parents be overly con-
cerned about all this screen time? Ex-
perts say it may be more valuable to look
at screens in the context of other as-
pects of your child’s general wellbeing.
Are they getting sufficient sleep, exer-
cise, and eating healthy?
When the coronavirus hit, many par-
ents tossed out limits on screens in or-
der to keep restless children engaged
and entertained. New data from Pear-
son shows 73% of parents have still al-
tered or suspended rules about their
child’s use of technology, such as limits
on screen time, restrictions on social
media sites, or other tech-related rules.
Now that many schools are reopen-
ing for full-time in-person or hybrid
learning, parents might rethink screen
time limits. Putting the genie back in the
bottle may be tough, but it’s a good time
for adults to revisit their child’s internet
activity.
Are concerns about the impacts of
screens on children justified or exagger-
ated?
Even before COVID, researchers
found school-aged children used
screens for entertainment between 4
and 7 hours a day. Over the past year
those numbers have probably increased
with widespread remote learning across
the country. The American Academy of
Pediatrics cautions parents about men-
tal and physical health impacts from ex-
cessive screen time, including behavior
problems, obesity, impaired sleep, and
DMV
Continued from Page 1A
could take – rather than promise too
much and fall short of expectations. The
process goes more smoothly if you sub-
mit an accurate application and fees,
said Lauren Mulligan, another spokes-
person for the transportation agency.
Before the pandemic, mail transac-
tions would usually take less than five
weeks, depending on how difficult the
transaction was, Ridenour said.
Oregon police agencies have agreed
to a rolling moratorium on citations
through the end of April.
In a memo dated Dec. 22, interim
DMV administrator Amy Joyce said po-
lice will “exercise discretion” when driv-
ers present expired licenses, permits, ID
cards, registration, trip permits or plac-
ards for people with disabilities that ex-
pired between Nov. 1, 2020 and April 30
of this year — and have been expired for
less than three months. So at this point,
if your license expired in November, you
are beyond that three-month grace pe-
riod.
“DMV and law enforcement will con-
tinue to monitor the COVID-19 public
health emergency, and may upon mutu-
al agreement extend this moratorium as
needed,” Joyce wrote.
Oregon DMV field offices were closed
between March 18 and June 2 last year
due to the pandemic, but they opened
up for limited appointment slots last
summer.
Those appointments are pretty pop-
ular, and get snapped up quickly in
more populated areas of the state, Ride-
vision.
When the pandemic swept across the
country and communities were locked
down, students turned to technology as
an important avenue not only for their
education but also to cope with social
isolation.
Managing screen time during this
pandemic isn’t easy for families but
there are ways you can support your
child.
House Rules
Establishing “no-screen” zones and
times — for mealtime, or relatives vis-
iting — can help a child’s social-emo-
tional development and improve family
relationships. Digital devices disrupt
sleep so keep them out of your kid’s bed-
room at night. Finally, make a rule to
lead by example and monitor your own
screen habits.
Staff
News Director
Don Currie
503-399-6655
dcurrie@statesmanjournal.com
Advertising
Westsmb@gannett.com
Deadlines
News: 4 p.m. Thursday
Letters: 4 p.m. Thursday
Obituaries: 11 a.m. Friday
Display Advertising: 4 p.m. Wednesday
Legals: 3 p.m. Wednesday
Classifieds: 4 p.m. Friday
News Tips
The Appeal Tribune encourages suggestions
for local stories. Email the newsroom, submit
letters to the editor and send announcements
to sanews@salem.gannett.com
or call 503-399-6773.
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Published every Wednesday by the Statesman Journal, P.O. Box 13009, Salem, OR 97309.
Quality, not Just Quantity matters
Researchers look at the use of
screens instead of the total screen time.
Not all time online is equal. An hour
Zooming with grandparents is different
than an hour alone in the basement
playing Xbox.
Join your children when they go on-
line to play a game or watch a video and
ask them questions about the session.
Not only will you get a better under-
standing of your student’s digital expe-
riences, but it could open up other op-
portunities for discussion.
USPS 469-860, Postmaster: Send address changes to Appeal Tribune, P.O. Box 13009, Salem, OR 97309.
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID: Salem, OR and additional offices.
Send letters to the editor and news releases to sanews@salem.gannett.com.
Benefits
Navigating the delicate balance of
on-screen time with off-screen time ac-
tivities is different for every family, but
it’s also important to note that recent
surge in screen use wasn’t all bad.
Awareness and Acquaintances
Healthy Balance
To help balance an increased use of
screens, make sure your child’s daily
routine includes play, exercise, and oth-
er off-screen activities. Schedule brain
breaks for physical outdoor time, or a
few minutes of stretching to boost ener-
gy and improve focus.
Digital devices allowed students to
become more informed about current
events like the election and raise their
awareness about civic engagement.
Some learners who tend to be introverts
became more empowered using tech-
nology to overcome social anxiety and
engage with friends using games such
as Minecraft.
Go Old School
Explore the planet
Encourage kids to spend non-screen
time reading a physical book, playing a
board game, or working on a puzzle.
Hands-on learning like drawing, paint-
ing, and cooking, are also creative ana-
log outlets.
nour said.
In-person appointments are re-
quired for some transactions, such as
taking the knowledge test to get a driv-
er’s license.
Fee increases last year
In 2017, state legislators hammered
out a deal to raise billions of dollars for
transportation projects across the state.
That law raised the gas tax, as well as
title and registration fees over a period
of seven years. It also means you’ll have
to pay a $15 tax if you buy a new bicycle
that costs at least $200.
The annual passenger vehicle regis-
tration fee used to be $43. In 2018, the
new law increased that fee to $56, ac-
cording to the Oregon Department of
Transportation.
In 2020, the fees increased again,
and the annual registration fee in-
creased more if your vehicle was more
fuel efficient. To register a car that is
from 1999 or earlier, or a car that is new-
er but has 0-19 miles per gallon, you’ll
need to pay $122 for a two-year registra-
tion, or $61 per year.
You’ll pay $132 if your car is from
2000 or newer and gets 20-39 miles per
gallon, and $152 if your car is from 2000
or newer and gets 40 or more miles per
gallon. Electric vehicle owners must pay
$306 for a two-year registration.
You might need to pay more depend-
ing on what county you live in and
whether you need to get Oregon plates
for your car.
Another fee increase will take effect
next year.
Title and registration fees go to the
state’s Highway Fund and under the
Oak
Continued from Page 1A
Six toppled over roots and all, and
four snapped in two, including a promi-
nent oak in the amphitheater.
The Signature Oak fared better than
other trees. It lost a significant branch
that snapped off about midway up the
trunk, and an even bigger branch nearly
broke off but remains attached, resting
on the ground.
Ken Hector, chair of The Oregon Gar-
den Foundation Board of Directors, in-
vited us to view the damage after our
story about Willamette University’s
“2021 Oregon Oak Salvage Project.”
Science professors Karen Arabas and
Joe Bowersox joined us to collect cook-
ies from some of the downed trees and
branches for the project. They hope to
Web site: www.SilvertonAppeal.com
Classifieds: call 503-399-6789
Retail: call 503-399-6602
Legal: call 503-399-6789
Willamette University Professor Karen
Arabas labels a cookie from the
Signature Oak on Wednesday at The
Oregon Garden in Silverton. ABIGAIL
DOLLINS/STATESMAN JOURNAL
better understand the history of Oregon
white oaks and urban forest structure.
Hector and Kitchen escorted us to the
Screens can take students to distant
places. A Willamette Connections
Academy 5th grade teacher took her
class with her “virtually” as she visited
several national parks. The students
state’s Constitution can only be used for
roads, according to ODOT.
If you buy a specialty plate, some of
the money you pay might go to a partic-
ular cause. For example, the $40 sur-
charge on the Gray Whale license plate
– which is on top of ordinary title and
registration costs – goes to the Oregon
State University Marine Mammal Insti-
tute.
New federal standards known as
“Real ID” add another layer of cost and
complication.
Starting Oct. 1, you will have to pre-
sent a passport or a driver’s license or
other form of ID that complies with Real
ID standards to fly domestically, enter a
secure federal building or a military
base.
Oregon started issuing driver’s li-
censes that meet Real ID standards last
July.
If you’re getting a new driver’s li-
cense, and want it to meet those stan-
dards, you’ll be charged $30 more. The
state is charging that $30, an increase
that the legislature passed, because the
DMV had to update its systems and ma-
chinery to accommodate the new stan-
dards, Ridenour said.
You can still get a standard driver’s
license and avoid paying the $30, but
you won’t be able to use that license to
board a plane starting Oct. 1.
What you’ll pay in OR, WA, ID
Even with the increases included in
the 2017 law, the taxes and fees associ-
ated with car ownership are still com-
paratively cheap in Oregon, according
to Oregon Department of Transporta-
tion officials.
Signature Oak, where Bowersox used a
chainsaw to cut two slices from the
downed branch. He also collected one
from another tree.
Kitchen said the partially-severed
branch resting on the ground will not be
removed, per the recommendation of
Mountain View Tree Service, since it’s
far enough off the path and shouldn’t
pose a risk. She pointed out another
branch of the tree that nearly split in
half some time ago and continues to
grow.
Mountain View installed the cable
system, which relies on a strong upright
branch to help support weaker
branches. Aside from that, there may
not be much else that can be done for
the Signature Oak.
Hector said the garden eventually
plans to bring in an arborist to do a more
thorough assessment.
“We understand everybody loves the
studied ecosystems, history, and many
other subjects about each park using a
trivia game, and scavenger hunt as cre-
ative activities for learning.
Tech Training
Having a front row seat to your
child’s online life, you may have seen
how tech-savvy they’re becoming. Stu-
dents are learning new skills earlier in
life, which will help them keep up with
technology for the 21st century.
As the world starts to open up again,
keep in mind children are still facing a
lot of pandemic uncertainties. Give
yourself some grace when it comes to
managing screen time, and keep the fo-
cus on your child’s overall happiness
and wellbeing.
Angie Groves is Willamette Connec-
tions Academy Middle School Assistant
Principal. ar. To learn more about the
school or to begin the enrollment process
visit www.WillametteConnectionsAca-
demy.com or call 888-478-9474.
“Oregon will remain one of the
cheapest states for vehicle taxes and
fees,” officials wrote in a summary of the
policy, “And Oregon’s total automobile
related taxes and fees will be tied with
Montana as the lowest of any nearby
western state.”
Let’s say you own a 2012 Toyota
Camry. In Oregon, since the car has a
combined miles per gallon of 32, ac-
cording to Car and Driver, and is newer
than 2000, you’d pay $132, or $66 per
year, to register the car, not including lo-
cal fees that your county may charge.
(This also doesn’t include the cost of a
title, which is a separate fee).
In Washington, you’ll pay a base fee
of $43.25 per year. You’ll pay an extra
fee corresponding to the weight of the
car. According to Car and Driver, a 2012
Camry weighs about 3,340 pounds. So
that extra fee would be $25.
So before local costs, your state reg-
istration fee for the year would be
$68.25. And depending on where you
lived in Washington, you’d pay more in
local taxes and fees.
In Idaho, for that same car, you’d pay
a $45 base fee to register the car, since
the car at this point is more than seven
years old. (You’d pay more for a newer
car, or for a car that is electric or a plug-
in hybrid). You might also need to pay
more in local fees or taxes, depending
on which county you lived in.
Claire Withycombe is a reporter at
the Statesman Journal. Contact her at
cwithycombe@statesmanjournal.com,
503-910-3821 or follow on Twitter
@kcwithycombe.Support local journal-
ism by subscribing to the Statesman
Journal.
tree,” Kitchen said, “but they’re telling
us it may be near the end of its lifespan.
Maybe not next year, not even five
years, but maybe in our lifetime.”
The Signature Oak was designated
in 2002 as an Oregon Heritage Tree. A
sign posted near the site lists the tree’s
height as 99 feet, 6 inches. Oregon
white oaks are generally slow-growing
trees, but unless they shrink with age
like humans, this one must have grown
over the past 19 years.
Maybe the next arborist to assess the
state of the tree could get an official up-
dated measurement.
Capi Lynn is the Statesman Journal’s
news columnist. Her column taps into
the heart of the community – its people,
history and issues. Contact her at
clynn@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-
399-6710, or follow her on Twitter
@CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiL-
ynnSJ.