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Disconnect to reconnect

Connecting to tech disconnects child development and learning
Photo courtesy Shutterstock.com A Nov. 16 presentation at Quest University aims to raise awareness of technology’s impact on youth.

On average, children are glued to screens of entertainment technology 7.5 hours per day.

TV, video games, internet, movies, cellphones and a variety of hand-held devices now occupy the majority of our children’s waking hours. It’s a fact most parents face and one that’s provoked discussion as to its effects. On Sunday, Nov. 16, well-known author and speaker Cris Rowan is coming to Squamish to shed some light on possible detriments to the generation of plugged-in youth. 

Developmental delay, obesity, sleep deprivation, mental illness, aggression, social isolation, poor communication, attention deficit and learning disorders have all been associated with technology overuse, Rowan has noted in her research. The effect of chronic states of high cortisol in a sedentary body, as well as the effect of prolonged use of electromagnetic radiation, are only beginning to receive research attention, but could prove to have permanent, life threatening consequences to child health, Rowan noted. 

Schools are creating “virtual” classrooms, and homes are creating “virtual” families, further alienating children from the essential human connection and attachment that is the basis for all learning, she continued. 

“Children are our future, yet choices made today raise the question: are the ways in which we are raising and educating our children with technology no longer sustainable?” Rowan asked.

Rowan’s talk, Disconnect to Reconnect, aims to raise public awareness regarding the damaging impact of technology on child development and academic performance, and provides initiatives for homes, schools, health professionals, governments, researchers, and technology production corporations to create “sustainable” children.

Rowan has bachelor of science degrees in both occupational therapy and biology, and is a certified pediatric sensory specialist. The presentation takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. at Quest University in the multi-purpose room. It costs $20 per individual plus GST. 

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