Kaylee Low
Fort Macleod residents will have the chance Tuesday, Sept. 17 to learn more about the impact screen time has on children.
Kaylee Low will lead an hour-long session titled Intentional With Tech at 7 p.m. Tuesday at F.P. Walshe school.
Parents, grandparents and other adults will be shown how screen time effects brain development, and mental and physical health of children.
“The presentation is open to adult community members and not exclusively parents of students at W.A. day and F.P. Walshe,” said Ashley Nelson, who chairs the school council at F.P. Walshe.
“We recognize that there are home school parents and grandparents who would benefit from this presentation as well, so they are certainly welcome to join us.”
For Low, Tuesday’s presentation is a return to F.P. Walshe school from which she graduated in 2002.
Low’s presentation on Tuesday evening will be tailored for adults, and will cover material that is not suitable for a younger audience.
Earlier in the day, Low will make an age-appropriate presentation to students at F.P. Walshe school.
“The major difference to my student presentation is that the topics are categorized into ‘tech nutrition’,” Low explained. “We cover what type of screen time is healthy, junk, and toxic. I strive to make my student presentations more interactive and shorter than a parent presentation to keep the students engaged. But I also provide them with practical ideas to use tech with more intention, and to recognize the signs of on-line predators.”
According to the Intentional With Tech Web site, 53 per cent of children own a cell phone by age 11
“The rapid advancements of technology, and specifically the smartphone, have changed the world,” Low said. “Many changes have been positive, however there are also negative impacts directly arising from the prevalence and overuse of technology in our society.”
“The research discussed in my presentation is often shocking and concerning, however, I also review tools and strategies that anyone can implement to minimize potential dangers. My presentation will have a parenting focus but I think any community member would find it informative and helpful.”
Low was a parent struggling six years ago with her oldest son’s desire to have a smart phone.
“His friends were starting to get their own phones and I didn’t feel good about it,” Low said. “I decided to get educated and I jumped into the research. With a background in nursing, I found the information interesting and startling.”
Low learned the risks and effects of technology including social media, pornography, sextortion, video game addiction, on-line predators, suicide and sharing nude images.
“Once I started to learn more about it, I felt it important to share the information,” Low said. “I wanted to create more awareness in our community and support parents by providing bite-sized amounts of information. That’s how my instagram page emerged.”
Low’s presentations encourage meaningful in-person relationships with family and friends, and explore ideas for a more intentional use of technology.
“Many parents feel busy and overwhelmed by life,” Low said. “As a result, most haven’t taken the time to learn about the effects of screens on the developing brain.”
“I think my presentation provides a lot of critical information in a short amount of time. Learning empowers parents to make necessary changes that will benefit their children and families.”
Low’s presentation will provide research and practical tips on how to navigate screens, along with resources for adults to take home.
People will also come away with more knowledge on how to manage their own screen time.
“I believe that healthy screen habits must start with us as parents — the adults,” Low said. “If we want changes in our children, then we must start by making changes with our own habits. Leading by example is critical.”
“And the tips I share can be applied to families as a whole. In fact, I encourage families to come up with a family tech plan — deciding together on the where, when, and for how long, they will use technology.”
