Greetings, valued readers. We have enjoyed mild weather here in Atlanta recently. Visiting the food trucks Monday night is proving quite popular in our local town. Mild temperatures, low humidity and wind made for a delightful evening enjoying pizza from a food truck. Here at MRT we hope you are enjoying your summer as well.A recent NYT blog/article dated 7/6/15 caught my attention due to the subject - gadget addiction among children. As we have been out and about, it's hard not to notice children everywhere are ignoring conversations and instead directing themselves to their gadgets - phones, tablets, etc. Stop the insanity!According to New York Time's Jane Brody, screen addiction has been classified as a clinical disorder in Japan and rehab facilities have been established for conflicted gadget addicts. Really??? The scientific results of going gadget cold-turkey have yet to be documented. You don't have to go far from home to see we have the same issue with our young people. So, what's the big deal? Listen up.In 2013, the American Academy of Pediatrics cited results of a Kaiser Foundation study conducted in 2010. This study concluded that 8 to 10 year olds are spending nearly eight hours daily with various media, television included. For older children, it's more like eleven hours daily, with computers, phones, tablets and televisions taking over. Before age 2 - listen up toddler parents - the AAP recommends no electronic media. These important first years, they claim, should be"... focused on human interaction, not screens." The article continues, according to Seattle Children's Research Institute's Dimitri A. Christakis, "Heavy use of electronic media can have significant negative effects on children's behavior, health and school performance." Further, the article shares the Journal of Youth and Adolescence's study that found teenagers who play violent video games or watching violent television have shown to be more aggressive and more likely to fight with teachers. You don't say? We needed a study to prove that???Texting is predicted to be the next epidemic, evidenced by a 2012 study that teenagers send 50 or more texts daily, averaging 3,364 texts monthly. What are the solutions? PBS is airing "Web Junkie" on Monday, highlight the tragic effects on teenagers texting and driving. Finding a balance is the key for parents. Parents should step up and limit the amount of screen time their child is allowed each day. I know, easier said than done. Perhaps you would rather check your offspring into a media junkie rehab center? One additional solution -spoiler alert, shameless plug - is to engage your child in Etiquette training. This training by professionals will give them the confidence they need around their peers, adults and others. MRT is available for private and/or group sessions customized to fit your needs. Simply drop me an email for further information.
