From Addiction to Actively Managing: Children and Screens

Mary Heard returns to Steiner Voices to discuss screens and how to protect children from the dangers of their addictive use. Although the evidence of the negative impact that screen use has on young people is well established, parents can still feel they are swimming against the tide in a society where screen use for children is so widespread. Screens have an inherently addictive quality designed into them, and Steiner schools have always advised parents to first restrict and then manage their children’s use of phones and digital devices. Mary outlines useful strategies that families take to actively manage screen use, so children can grow up using screens in a responsible and intentional manner. Mary is a long term parent in Steiner schools, and is now a parent educator working with the program Simplicity Parenting: her website has many valuable resources for further reference: maryheardsimplicityparenting.com . For more information about Steiner education: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/⁠⁠ For more information about locations and contact details of Steiner schools: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/schools/⁠⁠  Teacher education and professional learning: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/events/⁠⁠  Working in a Steiner school: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/jobs/#vacancies⁠⁠  Our facebook page is ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/steinereducationaustralia⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/steinereducationaustralia/⁠⁠  The beautifully performed theme music ‘Libertango’ is played by Esther Abrami and Alexandra Whittingham.   Esther’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.estherabrami.com/⁠⁠  Alexandra’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.alexandrawhittingham.com/⁠⁠ Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/