Local group advocates for phone-free childhoods

OR Unplugged” is a coalition created by parents in Portland to support healthy digital environments for children. The group provides resources to parents and families like curriculums for digital wellness, suggestions for alternative devices to smartphones, and community events with “unplugged” activities. The group also works as a thread to unite several smaller, local groups of parents across Oregon that are like-minded about creating phone-free environments for their children. Currently, these groups exist around Central Oregon, Hood River, Ashland, Salem and the Portland-Metro area.   One of these groups, based in Sherwood, was founded by Daniel Golder, a father who wanted to create a screen-free upbringing for his children. He calls the local group “Analog Alpha,” because of the group’s goal of helping Generation Alpha being “adept at technology without being dominated by it.”   Kathy Masarie is the founder of OR Unplugged — she’s a retired pediatrician who pivoted to this advocacy work after two decades in healthcare. We’ll hear from Masarie and Golder about their work.