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05/03/2017 08:30 AMFrom school days filled with technology-based learning to downtime devoted to computer gaming, Smartphones, tablets, and laptops, kids today live inches away from their screens. Are they in need of a digital detox?
It’s a question that haunts most every parent, and it’s not the only question. What’s age-appropriate? How much time is too much time? What is all this screen time doing to our kids—socially, emotionally, and developmentally?
That’s why, when Guilford resident and Middletown pediatrician Tina Roman, MD, first saw the documentary film Screenagers, she knew she had to share it with her hometown. As chairperson of Guilford Fund for Education (GFFE), Tina helped make it GFFE’s mission to bring about next week’s first-ever Guilford screening of the award-wining film.
“I saw the movie, and as chairperson of the GFFE, I went to a board meeting and suggested we show it,” says Tina, who then secured the contract and venue.
On Wednesday, May 10, GFFE urges the community—and especially parents with questions—to come out to a free screening of the award-winning documentary Screenagers at 7 p.m. at Guilford High School. To reserve a free ticket, visit the GFFE website www.gffe.org for a link to the ticket site.
Created by social change documentary filmmaker, physician, and mom Delaney Ruston, Screenagers was born of Ruston’s personal experience in attempting to set screen use limits with her kids, while also researching the science behind screen time and its effect on children’s development.
The film documents the process of Ruston buying her own daughter a cell phone and delves into how screen time affects young people by talking directly with them. Even with some worrying outcomes—one teen talks about his gaming addiction, and how it led him from high-school academic and sports stand-out to college drop-out—the film sends a positive, upbeat message that a healthy balance can be achieved.
By sharing free community screenings, Ruston hopes her film will inspire change in homes, schools, and communities, according to information at the film’s official website, www.screenagersmovie.com.
Tina feels closely aligned with the reasons which motivated Ruston to craft Screenagers and share it with communities.
“The concept was developed by a woman who, like me, is a physician and a mom. We’re all struggling with these questions. As a pediatrician, it comes up all the time,” says Tina. “When I heard about the film, I went and saw it in another town, and I thought, ‘This is something we need in Guilford.’”
Immediately following the Guilford screening on May 10, Tina is happy to note that Guilford Youth & Family Services (GYFS) will provide a professional to help moderate an audience discussion. Tina has also enlisted some other professionals to be in the audience to assist with questions that may arise in their areas of expertise.
Tina says Screenagers will no doubt provide much food for thought for those who see it.
“I think it just covers so many different aspects of how screens can be damaging to our kids,” she says. “First, it can affect their sleep; think of those who fall asleep with screens in their bedrooms. And it’s distracting, of course. The movie also covers the idea of multi-tasking. Kids think they can be doing homework, watching videos, and texting their friends.”
When it comes to other problem areas of screen use, Tina says, “there’s almost no possible way to cover it all. There’s the whole social media aspect, and bullying is another very big aspect. So parents really have to pick and choose what are the problem aspects of their families.”
In addition to the evening community screening at GHS, the film will be shown to Guilford Public Schools 7th and 8th graders at Adams Middle School on Monday, May 8.
While she is delighted that GPS will screen the movie for the town’s early teens, “I almost feel that age is too late,” says Tina. “The people who made the movie do recommend it for people in the 5th grade and older. So while I think it’s fine for people to see the movie at that [Adams Middle School] age, I think it’s more important for kids even younger than that to see it, just to know what’s coming and to give them tools to set up some parameters.”
Speaking of tools, the website associated with the film, www.screenagers.com, offers many tools help those seeking to curb screen time or learn more about its impacts.
“At the website, people can sign up to get a weekly discussion point, which I’ve found really helpful. And they have all of the previous discussion points documented on a blog, so it’s a really great resource,” says Tina. “They have a suggested type of family media plan/contract and ideas on parameters to set up , like which rooms in the house are off-limits or ‘How about let’s not have screens at dinner?’”
Tina says she’s hearing “buzz in town” about the upcoming screening, particularly from parents with kids in or entering their middle school years. She hopes interested community members will be sure to go online in advance to secure their free tickets for the May 10 screening and discussion.
“There are lot of ways to discuss this, but I think screening a film is such a great learning tool. One of our Grants Committee members has done screenings of [other] movies for Shoreline Girls United, and we’ve seen that people really open up to this type of learning and discussion opportunity.”
GFFE presents Screenagers on Wednesday, May 10, at 7 p.m. at Guilford High School, 605 New England Road, 7 p.m. To reserve a free ticket, visit the GFFE website www.gffe.org.