How Much is Too Much? Holliston PTO Examines Screen Time Screenagers, Growing Up in the Digital Age to Be Shown February 15

If you have a pre-teen to teenager, chances are, they spend a lot of time with their screens. What’s the effect of all of this screen time?
On Wednesday, February 15th, at Holliston High School, 370 Hollis Street, Holliston, from 7-9 p.m. (snow date the following night, same time), the Holliston PTO will be screening the widely praised film, Screenagers, produced by Delaney Ruston, a Stanford trained physician and social change documentary filmmaker, who takes a look at the trend and effects of more kids getting smart phones, as well as increased technology in schools and for homework. The 68-minute film explores both the positive and the negative aspects of the relationship teenagers have with their screens and offers solutions on how adults can empower kids to find balance in that digital world.
“The movie was recommended to me as Chair of PTO’s Parent Education Committee, by Mary McNamara, Network Administrator, at the Robert Adams Middle School,” says Lynne Rahim. “I think that the movie is very relevant to our times and struggles as parents and educators. The technology of today is not something we grew up with. We worry about how much screen time is too much screen time and how being constantly ‘connected’ is affecting our kids and our families. I think that the majority of us are challenged to keep our kids present and engaged in the ‘real world.’”
After the movie, there will be a panel of experts available for discussion and questions. The panelists include Darlene Vittori-Marsell, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Laurel Watt-Aldredge, Licensed Psychologist and John Powers, Middle School Guidance Counselor.
“I am an adolescent nurse practitioner,” says Vittori-Marsell, of Holliston. As a medical provider for this age group, she says, “Screens and Internet and social media is a huge portion of a teenager’s life. I think as a parent, one of the hardest things is we don’t have the tools to know how to manage screen time, or if we even should manage it. As we’re learning, they’re just taking off with it. I’m hoping the film will give some insight and answer some of the same questions parents have for me during their well visits.”
For more information and movie reviews, as well as a trailer for the film, visit http://www.screenagersmovie.com/. The website also contains useful articles for parents, information on apps to monitor and limit screen time, and links to helpful organizations.
“Because it is something that most of us struggle with, it makes sense that this movie has been very popular with audiences,” says Rahim. “It’s a documentary that includes expert testimonial and hopefully some good ‘take home’ points. The Holliston PTO are also hoping that the movie will generate questions and meaningful discussion with our panel of experts.”