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[Title of Workshop Series]

Technology,

Then & Now

Raising Healthy �Kids in a �Digital World

Welcome!

Young Kids & Screens: Healthy Development in the Digital Age

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Raising Healthy Kids �in a Digital World

In this workshop, we'll reflect on: �

How technology has evolved in our lifetime.
The benefits and challenges of raising kids in today's digital age.

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Technology�is here to stay.

"The World Economic Forum estimates that 65% of children today will end up in careers that don't even exist yet."

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Icebreaker

Share a memory that you have of an older piece of technology.

How did you use it? With whom?

What benefits do you think this technology had for you?

Did it have any downsides? Cause any conflicts with friends/family?

What new tech has replaced that old tech?

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Let's go back in time and think about the gadgets and tech we used when we were growing up.

Hand out technology cards.

Take a couple minutes to look at these cards (or images on the slide). Pick one thing you used when you were younger, or something that brings back a memory.

Give participants time to look through the cards and reflect.

Let's take a few minutes to share some of those memories with each other. Talk about what you chose and why.

Share a memory you have of an older piece of technology.
What benefits do you think this technology had for you?
Were there any downsides to using this technology?
Was it the source of any conflicts with your friends or family?
What new tech has replaced that old tech?
What types of technology are children using today?
How do the new technologies differ from the old tech?

If you're in person and if space allows, have participants get up from their seats to find others who chose the same item or a similar one (five minutes).

When the group comes back, have a couple participants share their reflections with the whole group (five minutes).

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To watch this video on the Common Sense website, click here.

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Benefits

Fears/ Challenges

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Thinking about how technology has changed and how it's continuing to evolve, let's talk about the benefits and challenges we face in today's digital world, especially when it comes to raising a family.

Reflection questions:

What are the benefits for our kids of today's media and technology?
What are your fears or some of the challenges?

Choose from these discussion strategies based on the size and dynamic of the group (or come up with your own):

Everyone shares together as a group.
Participants turn and talk to their neighbors. Then a few volunteers share with the whole group.
Pass out two Post-it Notes to each participant and have them write or draw one benefit and one challenge on each. Participants stick the "benefits" together and the "challenges" together on a wall or whiteboard. A few volunteers share with the whole group what they notice.
If participants get overly negative about new technology, try to balance the discussion by asking about ways that tech makes their lives as parents and caregivers easier vs. harder.

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Fears/Challenges

Communicating with loved ones far away
New careers
Access to information
Broadcast yourself
Entertainment
New learning tools
Connection to the world
Learn anything online

Monitoring use of tech
Tech addiction
Inappropriate content
Online predators
Online bullying
Violence
Dangerous "challenges" and trends
Too much access at an early age

Benefits

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Hopes

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Focusing their attention.
Working toward goals.
Practicing patience and taking turns.
Switching gears during transitions.
Taking on challenges.
Seeing things from another person's perspective.
Remembering information.
Making connections.
Thinking critically.

Early childhood life skills

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Thank you!

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