Balancing Screen Time: New Classroom Cell Phone Ban
Episode Overview
Ontario's new policy bans cell phones in classrooms to reduce distraction. Excessive phone use can lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Parents need to set boundaries and model healthy phone habits. Pathstone Mental Health offers programmes to help families manage technology use. Balancing beneficial and harmful technology use is crucial for children's development.
We have to be good models, right? So we have to be abiding by the same rules.
In this episode of Life Unscripted, host Janice Arnoldi tackles a hot topic: the Ontario government's new policy banning cell phones in classrooms. Joining her is Erin Clayton, Director of Quality Assurance, Research, and Planning at Pathstone Mental Health. They dive into the potential impacts of this policy on children's mental health and academic performance. Erin shares her insights on how constant cell phone use affects kids' developing brains, leading to issues like distraction and social disconnection.
The discussion also covers how parents can set boundaries and model healthy phone habits for their children. Erin highlights Pathstone's initiatives to help families manage technology use, including wellness walls and family support programmes. The episode is a must-listen for parents grappling with the balance between beneficial and harmful technology use in their children's lives. By the end, you'll have a better understanding of how to create a healthier tech environment for your family.