Opportunities for Improvement

New Canaan Unplugged

New Canaan Unplugged

— 2 min read
Opportunities for Improvement
Photo by Jessica Rockowitz / Unsplash

It is no secret that being a parent today is challenging. In August 2024, the US Surgeon General even issued an advisory about the mental health and wellbeing of parents (you can read it HERE). There is no silver bullet, but we can begin by talking about opportunities for improvement in the current state of parenting, especially around technology.

  • Reduce “Technoference” - Technoference (any kind of disruption in parenting due to a digital device) has been show to increase developmental and behavioral problems in children. Read the recently released study HERE to see the data. Making sure phones are away at dinner time is an easy place to start removing digital disruptions from family time.
  • Build Independence - Encouraging kids to navigate the world on their own, with or without a device, helps both parents and children. Kids learn resourcefulness and develop confidence completing tasks that their parents might have helped them with. Parents are free to do other things! Lenore Skenazy, an advocate of “free range parenting”, has a few other suggestions HERE.
  • Free Play - Bringing back neighborhood play helps parents, kids and the entire community. Kids get to enjoy unstructured outdoor play while parents get a much needed break. A recent article HERE in The Atlantic (subscription may be required) outlines what was lost when cars became more prevalent in neighborhoods.
book near eyeglasses and cappuccino
Photo by Sincerely Media / Unsplash

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Help New Canaan Unplug

If you are interested in creating a healthier relationship with technology for our children, please check out our survey HERE to let us know how you can help.

New Canaan Unplugged is a parent-run group completely independent from the New Canaan Public School System and the Town of New Canaan.

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