S1 – Episode 13: Media and Children’s Well-Being – How is Screen Time Impacting Our Kids?

On Wednesday May 2, we were pleased to welcome Dr. Tim Kasser to Cuba, IL to share his presentation titled “Media and Children’s Well-Being”  (The first 30 minutes are Tim’s talk while the last 20 minutes Tim answers some questions from the audience). This presentation was part of our Screen Free Week Activities that took place in our community (April 30 – May 4).

After receiving his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Rochester, Tim Kasser accepted a position at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, where he is currently Professor & Chair of Psychology.  He has written over 100 scientific articles and book chapters on materialism, values, goals, ecological sustainability, and quality of life, among other topics. He is also the author of five books, including The High Price of Materialism (MIT Press, 2002) and the cartoon book HyperCapitalism (The New Pres, 2018).  Tim spends a good deal of his time working with activist groups that protect children from commercialization, that promote ecological sustainability, and that encourage a more “inwardly rich” lifestyle than what is offered by consumerism. Tim lives with his wife, two sons, and assorted animals a few miles south of Knoxville, Illinois. And his work has been a big inspiration for why we wanted to participate in Screen Free Week activities this week.

‘Tim’s presentation was part of our emphasis on Literature during Screen Free Week. Screen Free Week is an annual celebration when families, schools and communities swap digital entertainment for the joys of life beyond the screen.  Organizers of this event ask that we all be mindful of the pull that technology often has in our life; especially the life of our children. And definitely one of the most supreme joys in life comes from a love of reading. Here’s just a few nuggets of info about reading

1. Reading makes you more intelligent, kids especially who read perform better in school and are exposed to more vocabulary than kids who watch a lot of TV (LINK)
2. Active readers also experience less stress, are found to sleep better and are found to be more compassionate.  Recent research shows that the most avid readers are those over the age of 60.

Other helpful links:

• Link to Screen Free Week Website (You can customize your own experience, Tim serves on the Board for Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood which sponsors SFW)
• Screen Free Week Schedule (Example of how Cuba, IL customized their own SFW experience)
• Financial Literacy Program “Fool Proof” mentioned in Tim’s Presentation
• Audio Recording to Parent Panel on Regulating Screens & Electronic Devices. (This parent panel was moderated by a High School Senior as part of our SFW in Cuba. Questions for our panel linked here were derived from Common Sense Media)
• Audio Recording of Student Panel on Technology which we held in anticipation of SFW in Cuba, IL. (Questions for our panel were also used from Common Sense Media)
• Link to News Article from the Canton Daily Ledger – “Cuba Celebrates Life Beyond the Screen”
• Blog and Podcast Interview with Tim. Interview was based around student-formed research question “Are We Happier in a Small Town.” Tim was our identified expert who helped us understand the difference between INTRINSIC and EXTRINSIC values. (The recording concludes with reflections on What We Learned)
• Vallue Pollution: Another blog and podcast interview with Tim. This time focusing on media advertising in schools and adolescents.