Turning Life On

With an educational background in Mass Media, Interpersonal Communication, English and Political Science, Adrienne brings passion and a unique perspective to Turning Life On. She is inspired by the desire for her four children to experience a hands-free, heads-up childhood that will give them the skills to co-exist safely with technology and become responsible, resilient and empathetic adults. As a certified Child and Teen Coach, Adrienne has a clear understanding of the latest research regarding technology and child development and works with parents, educators and community leaders to bring thoughtful strategies for achieving digital wellness into homes and schools. She is the co-founder of Concord Promise and a member of the Screens in Schools Working Group for the Children’s Screen Time Action Network. Adrienne is also a presenter for the Massachusetts Partnership for Youth, a regular contributor on the Podcast “Live Above the Noise” and a writer for the Family Online Safety Institute Good Digital Parenting Blog. If you live in Concord, you’ve likely seen her racing from pickup line to pickup line at multiple schools. Adrienne spent an unreasonable amount of time writing notes in middle school. You can drop her one the old fashioned way or at adrienne@turninglifeon.org.

Ann Salerno is a mother, pediatrician, and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at University of Massachusetts Medical School. She is also the co-founder of “Mommying is Hard” support groups in Hopkinton, MA where mothers meet regularly to share their struggles and successes. She joined the TLO movement because she has witnessed the effects of excessive screen time and unhealthy technology habits on children in her clinics and in her community.  She has listened to many parents share their struggles and fears around parenting in the digital age.  She is concerned about the growing body of medical literature that supports a negative association between screen time (smart phone use, gaming, social media) and child development and mental health outcomes.  She believes that a community commitment to healthy screen time practices is the most effective way to prevent technology addiction and foster positive social, educational, emotional and physical health outcomes for children.  Through TLO, she is committed to learning from and sharing ideas with parents, educators, community members and experts in the field in an effort to cooperatively implement practices that help our children manage technology in a healthy way. Ann lives in Hopkinton with her husband and two elementary-age children and co-champions the local movement. She is also a stepmother to two college-age youth.