KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE!

Providing Critical Awareness, Prevention & Educational Programs to Address Youth Mental Health, Alcohol & Substance Misuse

July 2023

Newsletter

Positive ways to get the most out of summer vacation, while strengthening the family bonds.

According to recent statistics, 8- to 12-year-olds spend six hours a day in front of screens, teenagers spend nine hours a day and 17 percent of children under age eight use mobile devices on a daily basis.

In his book Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids—and How to Break the Trance, Nicholas Kardaras writes that doctors and researchers consider screen time “digital heroin.” Technology use activates the release of both dopamine and endorphins, which creates an addictive response.

Parents can use a variety of strategies to help kids unplug from devices during the summer.

Employ regular “screen fasts” during which the entire family powers down their devices.

Make mealtimes a no-tech zone.

Keep computers in the living room or kitchen so you can monitor how much and what your kids are doing online.

Set a good example by staying off your own devices as much as possible.

Establish a daily routine for each child that includes chores around the house or outdoors to get them moving and away from their devices.

Get outside

If necessary, use software/apps that will cut off Internet access or gameplay after a certain amount of time.

Establish clear rules around tech use, and clear consequences when those rules aren’t followed.

Being outside in nature has proven mental health benefits for the whole family.

As well as getting kids off their screens, spending time outdoors is healthy for mind, body, and spirit. Maybe you’ve experienced it yourself: Taking a walk or a swim when you’re feeling irritable or blue can totally transform your mood. That goes for grumpy teens and restless kids as well. There are scientific underpinnings to these positive effects.

The Proven Benefits of Time Outdoors

Research shows that spending time outside reduces anxiety and depressive thoughts.

Time in nature has been shown to reduce stress by lowering the stress-associated chemical cortisol.

Scientists at Stanford found that memory and cognitive function are improved by outdoor activity.

Physical exercise improves mental health in adolescents.

One study showed that extended time in nature, away from social media and e-mail, enhanced creativity and problem-solving ability by 50 percent.

Unplugged time in nature helps regulate mood disturbance and nervous system arousal caused by too much time in front of screens.

Studies show that nature activities reduce the symptoms of ADHD in children.

Summer offers an unlimited canvas for creativity. This is a great time to try something new or return to an old hobby that got lost in the shuffle. Additionally, creativity is known to boost mental health.M

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Here are a few ideas for creative projects that kids and teens can do on their own or with the whole family:

Take classes at a local art or dance school.
Create a vision board using poster board and old magazines; spread out the materials in an area that doesn’t have to be cleaned up at the end of the day so the project isn’t rushed.
Start music lessons; make summer a trial period and decide at the end of the vacation whether or not to continue.
Keep a summer journal.
Write a short story as a family: Each family member writes a paragraph or two, then passes it on to the next person. Pass it on for a few rounds, then read the finished product aloud as a group.

Summer offers more opportunities to have open-ended conversations with your teen

Research shows that spending time together as a family improves adolescent well-being.

Next Coalition Meeting:

Tuesday, August 22nd

7:30 pm

Details TBD

Please CLICK BELOW TO CHECK OUT our website savinglives5townscoalition.org

If you know or suspect your child or teen may be misusing substances, have addictive behavior or may be having mental health issues, please reach out to:

Susan Blauner, Director

Substance Abuse Prevention,

Awareness and Education

516.569.6733

susan.blauner@guraljcc.org

savinglives5townscoalition.org