A group of 13 parents, community members, and staff met last night to discuss the book Anxious Generation and how its insights apply to both our students and our own children at home. The conversation lasted over an hour and provided valuable insights into the struggles we face as parents and as individuals navigating an increasingly digital world.
We had a few simple goals:
- To offer practical tips for parents to support their children at home.
- To find ways to provide students with opportunities to escape the digital world within the walls of our school.
- To plan a follow-up meeting to invite more community members, especially those who have not yet heard of the book, to participate in a group discussion and help spread awareness about its message. Information regarding this meeting a date will be coming soon.
Tips for Parents from Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt:
- Limit screen time to no more than two hours per day. Learn how to use parental controls and content filters.
- Focus on maximizing in-person activities and ensuring your child gets enough sleep.
- Encourage free play and unstructured activities.
- Allow sleepovers, but avoid micromanaging them.
- Delay the opening of social media accounts until at least age 16.
- Give your child responsibilities at home with chores and tasks.
- Help your child discover the joys of nature.
Tips for Schools from Anxious Generation:
- Implement phone-free policies in schools.
- Create "play-full" schools by increasing recess time with minimal adult intervention. The goal is to build resilience through unstructured free play and conflict resolution.
- Offer a "Play Club" before and/or after school.
- Expand "recess" time into middle and high schools.
- Utilize the Let Grow Project (https://letgrow.org/).
- Continue to build and promote shop classes and vocational/technical training programs.