I am not a social media alarmist anymore. Most parents are no longer clueless about social media and the impact it has on the developing brain and the risks associated with unfiltered access. Yet, I come across extreme blogs like this one and still feel the urge to share it with parents who have children on social media, like TikTok. https://www.scarymommy.com/parents-beware-dangers-tiktok/
And there is an ongoing debate around cell phone access. At what age? Etc. Are you a parent pledging until 8th grade to give a cell phone. Not a bad idea if your child presents with self-regulation challenges or if you’re going to help your child avoid most of the unnecessary online drama of middle school. This is a great site if you want to learn more. https://www.waituntil8th.org/
Now, neuroscience research will say that the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until the later teenage years. This is good to know. Maybe it’s better to hold off on presenting our children with too many distractions and emotional triggers until they are mature enough to effectively process and problem solve. The developing brain needs downtime – time to rest, reflect, think, process. I fear that screentime might impact this innate need — just another point to ponder. Read for yourself a comprehensive review of the research by Professor Jean Twenge and Professor Jonathan Haidt
These topics and more are covered during our parent workshops held at EEC and surrounding libraries. If you interested in taking part in these conversations, please let me know. Pro-parenting coaching workshops
https://mailchi.mp/effectiveeffortconsulting.com/parent-coaching
All the best, Dr. Murphy