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56 HOOK MAGAZINE | 2024 friends. They admi6ed feeling isolated and le% out when they were offline, es- pecially since many social interac5ons and ac5vi5es had moved to digital plat- forms. This sense of disconnec5on made them anxious and even more dependent on their devices as a means to maintain their social life. In the days that followed, I reached out to other parents who were experi- encing similar challenges with their chil- dren. We formed a small support group, sharing our concerns and strategies. Talking to other families proved invalu- able, as it allowed us to create a more unified approach to managing screen 5me. By working together, we were able to support not only our daughters but also their friends, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility. The children found comfort in knowing they weren't the only ones naviga5ng these challenges, and we, as parents, were able to reinforce consistent bound- aries across households. This collabora- 5ve effort made a significant difference, helping our children develop healthier habits and feel more connected both online and offline. Just as our bodies need balance be- tween walking, sleeping, ea5ng, and ex- ercising, we also need quiet 5me to balance screen exposure. Ideally, chil- dren should have limited screen 5me since their brains aren't fully developed. However, screens are a part of our world, and we must learn to navigate this reality. Just as there is a proper age and 5me for everything—like how we aren't born walking but need 5me for our bones and muscles to develop— there's also a right 5me to introduce phones and tablets to children. Deter- mining that 5me isn't easy, especially with increasing studies showing the po- ten5al harm of excessive screen 5me on young minds. In his book The Anxious Genera5on, Jonathan Haidt argues that constant connec5vity and exposure to social media create an environment ripe for anxiety and depression. He iden5fies several contribu5ng factors: social com- parison, where teenagers compare themselves unfavorably to idealized por- trayals of others' lives, leading to low self-esteem; cyberbullying, which is more pervasive and harder to escape than tradi5onal bullying due to the anonymity of social media; sleep disrup- 5on from smartphone use before bed, leading to mood disorders; and reduced face-to-face interac5on, with excessive screen 5me displacing meaningful social ac5vi5es. To address these issues, Haidt proposes banning smartphones un5l high school to allow children to develop healthy social habits and restric5ng so- cial media use un5l age sixteen to pro- tect younger adolescents during a cri5cal period of their emo5onal devel- opment. These recommenda5ons are based on research linking early and ex- cessive use of smartphones and social media with nega5ve mental health out- comes. In The Anxious Genera5on, Haidt also provides ac5onable steps for parents, educators, and policymakers to foster be6er mental health among young people, emphasizing the impor- tance of protec5ng them from the harmful effects of technology while al- lowing its benefits in a controlled man- ner. What is the right thing to do? What has helped me a lot throughout the years naviga5ng this ques5on is commu- nity. It takes a village to raise our chil- dren. How can we come together to help each other navigate the winding paths of the stream, which is now join- ing with the river, whose current is much stronger, and whose waters are much deeper? By sharing experiences and strategies, we can help kids develop healthy tech habits and resilience. Let's unite to ensure our children thrive in both the virtual and real worlds. As we journey alongside our children through the twists and turns of their growth, let's remember the importance of balance and mindfulness. Just as we guide them through the physical, emo- 5onal, and social changes of adoles- cence, let's also navigate the digital landscape together, fostering resilience and well-being. By embracing the wis- dom of our collec5ve village, we can create a suppor5ve community where our children can thrive, both online and offline. Let's work together to build a fu- ture where our kids grow up strong, re- silient, and full of poten5al. www.paren5ngfromwithin.us As I witness him pack his backpack with a mix of excitement and uncertainty, I'm reminded of the joy that comes from hanging out with an eleven-year-old

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