The first five years of a child’s life are incredibly important. It’s the time when most of the brain is being wired. From the day a child born, millions of neurons are making billions of connections, and children are learning all the time – at every moment of the day. Everything around them is teaching them, but the most important teachers of all are the important adults in their lives. YOU are their interpreters, guides, stewards, security, and bridge to understanding the world around them.
That world is full of screens, and we know how important and helpful they are for so many people, especially grown-ups! We are starting to learn more about the ways that screens can, and can’t, be helpful for children, too! Below are some resources to help you manage tech use in the ways that are best for your family and your child’s development. You’ll notice that most of it looks like play and spending time together, and that’s no accident! That’s the way we all learn best!
Center for Humane Technology – humanetech.com
- tips to regain control of media use at home
Common Sense Media – commonsensemedia.org
- reviews for what kids want to watch (before they watch it). Trusted ratings created with families in mind
Healthy Children .Org – healthychildren.org
- the American Academy of Pediatrics’ website for parents and families
Media Smarts – mediasmarts.ca
- Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy
Protect Young Eyes – protectyoungeyes.com
- Defending kids from online danger and creating safer digital environments
World Health Organization – who.int
- Global standards for physical activity, sedentary screen time and sleep in early childhood
Coalitions Collaborating for Impact (CCI) consists of parents, community members, organizations and professionals who are all working together to better the lives of young children and their families. We work hard to support five important developmental areas for children based on the Early Development Instrument.
