Is your child complaining of headaches, neck pain or back pain after a full day of remote learning?

Have you noticed your child slouching by the end of a school day in front of his/her computer?

Want to help your student feel better and develop positive life-long posture habits?

 Join Physical Therapist, Jaimee Mace, MSPT, for a presentation to learn about the effects electronic devices have on your student's posture and how it can be impacting their health and growing bodies.
You and your child will learn:
* What is "good posture"
* Why good posture is so important
* How to combat the effects of slouching
* How to properly set up and use electronics to alleviate strain on the body

Please plan to watch with your child if you can. In fact, your whole family is invited to join!

Register here.

As Acton-Boxborough Regional School District School Resource Officers, Keith and Tyler bring years of experience and a wealth of practical advice for parents to this conversation. We'll be talking about the 5 Rs of internet safety as well as healthy relationships, pornography and sexting, bullying and cyberbullying, and violence and racism. Our goal is to offer parents some insight into what internet issues Keith and Tyler address with their students, and how parents can guide and talk with their kids about those issues. Please bring your questions! This is meant to be an informal community conversation.

You will receive Zoom information once you register and in advance of the event.

Register here.

Elementary and middle school aged kids are spending time online engaging with many different apps, games, and websites from Fortnight to YouTube. Recent research has uncovered widespread use of these sites by sexual predators whose goal is to gain access to children. These predators are sophisticated in the ways they communicate with children, build trust, and then shift to requests, shame and threats. 

This webinar will review what is actually going on, and what parents can do to keep their kids safe online. Parents will learn practical tips they can implement right now and ways to discuss these concerns with their children. The presentation will center around ways of promoting ongoing communication with your child about their online activity and what children should do if they or their friends encounter an unhealthy online interaction. 

Please register here. You will receive a meeting invitation the day before the event.

We are living in extraordinary times. Our social media feeds are abuzz with funny memes, worrisome articles and incredible acts of kindness and generosity. We are also living during a time in which our adolescents are more depressed and more anxious, and more likely to be hospitalized for self-harm and suicide. Research shows at least a link between this mental health crisis and social media use, especially for girls. Humans need social connection, in real life. How do we achieve that while social distancing? Can we help kids balance technology to achieve digital wellness when so much has moved online? How do we support them during this time?

In this webinar, we will:

Look at how kids are using technology

Review research on adolescent mood disorder and social media’s role

Examine the positive and negative aspects of social media use

Share tips for helping kids embrace digital wellness

Please register here. The login information will come from Eventbrite.

Toddlers and preschoolers are always on the move and demand our full attention. Can we help them develop independent play skills at this young age? Let’s talk about. In this informal conversation, participants can chat with Jenifer Joy Madden, author and Digital Wellness expert, and share challenges, successes and tips in a supportive environment.

Please register here. You will receive a meeting invitation the day before the event.

About our guest:

Jenifer Joy Madden is a certified Digital Wellness instructor, digital media adjunct professor, TEDx speaker, and founder of DurableHuman.com.

With three durable grownup kids of her own, she is an award-winning active-living advocate who has written a book series, has a line of Durable Human products, and hosts Durable U, an online classroom for expectant, new, and renewing parents. Jenifer’s work has appeared on media outlets ranging from ABC News to The Washington Post to the Children and Nature Network.

Find Jenifer’s books on Amazon and Audible: The Durable Human Manifesto: Practical Wisdom for Living and Parenting in the Digital World and How to Be a Durable Human: Revive and Thrive in the Digital Age Through the Power of Self-Design.

Parenting in the digital world is overwhelming and complicated, especially today as we cope with social distancing and working from home. We strive for balance in our own lives while trying to balance screens and technology. What can we do to ensure our children are developing the necessary “soft skills,” like resilience, cooperation, independence, and curiosity, to be successful in school and in the future? And how does technology interfere with the development of these skills? Join us for a presentation to discover why successful balance of technology is essential for living healthier, fuller lives. This event is for parents with young children (0-5).

Please register here. You will receive a meeting invitation the day before the event.

You've seen The Social Dilemma [38 million households around the world have!], but now what? Please join us for a very special event organized by Turning Life On and Teodora Pavkovic: "The Next Step: Solutions to the Dilemma."

PLEASE REGISTER HERE.

About this Event
Featuring a panel discussion and town hall, this event will bring together some of the most knowledgeable and inspirational minds in digital wellness to shed light on what it means to be digitally healthy and to share the concrete steps we can take to achieve digital wellness in our families. We seek to bring together youth voices, expert opinions and parents' concerns in one virtual space, and take the first few steps towards improving our digital wellness through a truly collaborative effort.

To kick off the event, we will be speaking with the Children's Screen-Time Action Network Youth Board Member Aliza Goldie Kopans, co-author of the "Dear Parents" report. "Dear Parents" is a unique, fascinating and beautifully produced digital well-being resource by teens for parents and other adult caregivers, channeling authentic teen voices sharing their thoughts and hopes about screens, phones, and digital devices. You can view the resource here.

Following Aliza's interview we will moderate a panel discussion featuring Dr. Criscillia Benford, Dr. Gail Dines, Dr. Sharon Maxwell, Chelsea Maxwell, Jay Vidyarthi and Helena Rampersaud (additional speakers coming soon), who will be sharing their takeaways from The Social Dilemma and the solutions they have already been working towards, each in their own field of expertise.

Our very last segment will be a Town Hall discussion featuring breakout rooms moderated by our event organizers and speakers. This will be the time to come together as a community and share concerns, hopes and practical strategies to address the many challenges of modern-day technology use.

We are very grateful to our incredible event partners: the Children's Screen Time Action Network, Culture Reframed, Durable Human, Maxwell Ed., LiveMore ScreenLess and LookUp.Live, and we encourage you to look them up and take advantage of their many free resources.

About our Panelists:

CRISCILLIA BENFORD, PH.D. is an award-winning writer and experienced researcher, educator, and public speaker who works toward a future where digital tech no longer undermines the wellbeing of humans –– especially children. She serves on the board of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and is currently writing a book called “The Tech Between Us.” Find out more about Dr. Benford here.

DR. GAIL DINES is the Founder & President of Culture Reframed, and Professor Emerita of Sociology and Women's Studies, Wheelock College, Boston. Having researched and written about the porn industry for more than 30 years, Dr. Dines is internationally acclaimed as the leading expert on how pornography shapes our identities, culture, and sexuality. She is a consultant to governmental agencies in the U.S. and abroad, including the UK, Norway, Iceland, and Canada. In 2008, she co-founded the nonprofit Stop Porn Culture. As board chair, she elevated Stop Porn Culture’s international profile and helped it to develop into today's Culture Reframed. Find out more about Dr. Benford here.

SHARON MAXWELL, PH.D. is an author, educator and a practicing clinical psychologist, specializing in adolescent and family therapy. Her award-winning book: "THE TALK: A Breakthrough Guide to Raising Healthy Kids in an Oversexualized, Online, In-your-face World" has been translated into Italian, Polish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin for publication in mainland China. She and daughter Chelsea Maxwell are currently working on a new book about raising healthy and responsible kids in a media-driven culture. Find out more about Dr. Maxwell here.

CHELSEA MAXWELL, Ed.M, is an educator, learning designer, and lecturer. After receiving her BA from Vassar college, Chelsea specialized in curriculum development as well as technology and innovation at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Having previously worked in advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, she is now focused on educating students about healthy relationships. Bringing years of experience as a director of mentoring for children and teens, Chelsea creates interactive and dynamic learning experiences for students of all ages. Find out more about Chelsea here.

HELENA RAMPERSAUD is an Indo-Caribbean poet and podcaster. Her show “The Rampersaud Ramble” centers around generational healing, vulnerability, and wellness. She is currently working at WFUV, an NPR radio station, where she creates media that serves communities feeling underrepresented and unseen. Helena is passionate about using her platform to raise awareness on taboo issues, especially mental health and cultural prejudice. As a young artist, she has learned how important it is for people of every age to be intentional with their technology use, and to relearn how important it is to rely on their human skills to foster their relationships. Currently, Helena is pursuing her M.A. in Public Media at Fordham University. Find out more about Helena here.

JAY VIDYARTHI describes himself as an attention activist because he believes mindfulness will empower individuals to reclaim choice in the attention economy. Over the past decade, he's maintained a consistent practice including many extended training retreats with a wide range of teachers and organizations. He leads mindfulness training in organizations of all shapes and sizes where he emphasizes a healthy relationship with technology. He also played a key role in creating A Mindful Society: an annual community event which draws hundreds of international leaders who are integrating mindfulness and compassion into hospital rooms, classrooms, boardrooms, and more. Find out more about Jay here.

About our Hosts:

Adrienne Principe is the Founder and Executive Director of Turning Life On and Teodora Pavkovic is a psychotherapist, parenting coach and international speaker specializing in emotional intelligence, positive psychology and digital wellness.

In this informal conversation with nationally-known child psychologist and author Dr. Anthony Rao, we will discuss how parents can employ agency to help themselves, their families and their communities during these difficult times. Dr. Rao’s most recent book, The Power of Agency, is based on 7 principles to help you take action to stay grounded, balanced and healthy. This conversation is more important now than ever before. You can learn more about his book here.

Participants can ask questions and share challenges, successes and tips in a supportive environment. We will be on hand to offer additional research-backed strategies you can implement today to help yourself and your kids keep tech in check.

Please register here. You will receive a meeting invitation the day before the event.

About our guest:

Dr. Anthony Rao, Ph.D.

Dr. Anthony Rao is a clinical psychologist who holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Vanderbilt University. For more than 20 years, Dr. Rao worked in the Department of Psychiatry at Boston Children's Hospital and served as instructor at Harvard Medical School, where he trained psychologists and physicians in the use of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, or CBT. 

Dr. Rao has been a featured expert on documentaries and has been interviewed for articles in The New Yorker, The Boston Globe, The Washington Times, The Chicago Tribune, and Parents Magazine, among many others. His editorial letters and opinions have appeared in a wide range of publications including Newsweek, Scientific American, The New York Times, and New York Magazine.

Dr. Rao has lectured extensively at universities, including Tufts University, Emerson College, and Boston University. He regularly presents at conferences, parenting groups, and conducts workshops for professionals around the country who work with children and young adults. 

His first book, The Way of Boys: Promoting the Social and Emotional Development of Young Boys (HarperCollins) is an expose on the current crisis in American boyhood. It  urges parents, educators, pediatricians, psychologists, and other developmental experts to reevaluate and radically alter how we raise boys – so boys can be their best, respecting their unique development right from the start.

With so many kids now learning from home, we need a plan to help them avoid digital distraction, so they can get their work done. Unfortunately, digital distraction is slowing them down, interfering with deep thinking, and truncating their attention, making it hard for them to be efficient and put forth their best work. This webinar will look at the science behind digital distraction, information overload, and over-reliance on digital media in everyday tasks, and how it’s impacting our brains. We will review specific strategies you can implement today to help yourself and your kids utilize mindful wellness to overcome digital distraction, keep tech in check, and thrive during distance learning.

Registration for this event is required by 10/13. Please register here.  You will receive a meeting invitation the day before the event.

About the presenter:

Adrienne Principe is the Founder and Executive Director of Turning Life On, a non-profit, grassroots movement committed to digital wellness. 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. She has been interviewed by the Wall 

Street Journal, The New York Times, and other news outlets, organization and digital wellness groups. 

This webinar will review current research regarding the teenage brain. We will look at how and why the teenage brain is impacted by digital media and consequently, how to reach teenagers in the learning environment. Understanding teenage brain development will provide educators with the knowledge necessary to communicate that information to students and help them better understand how they can balance digital media to achieve digital wellness and positive learning outcomes.

This event is being offered by the Mass Partnership for Youth and is open ONLY to educators in MPY member districts/organizations. PDPs and CEUs* will be available to participants. To learn more, visit the MPY website.

Click here to register.

Join us for an informal conversation about family media plans and digital wellness with Dr. Sharon Maxwell and Chelsea Maxwell of Maxwell Ed. Dr. Maxwell and Chelsea will discuss the importance of kick-starting a conversation with kids and teens about their own brains and how the online world takes advantage of the hardwired structure of our brains. As conversation is the first step in designing a successful family media plan, they will be available to answer questions about how to start the conversation and how to stay on track with your family media plan.  This is your chance to ask questions, and share struggles and successes in a supportive environment.

Registration for this event is required by 9/22. Please register here.  You will receive a meeting invitation the day before the event.

About our guests:

SHARON MAXWELL, PH.D.

PSYCHOLOGIST, AUTHOR, EDUCATOR

Dr. Maxwell is a practicing clinical psychologist, specializing in adolescent and family therapy.

Her award-winning book, THE TALK: A Breakthrough Guide to Raising Healthy Kids in an Oversexualized, Online, In-your-face World, has been translated into Italian, Polish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin for publication in mainland China. She and Chelsea are currently working on a new book about raising healthy and responsible kids in a media-driven culture.

Dr. Maxwell has been interviewed by NPR, Time Magazine, US News & World Report, NBC and Fox News, Oprah and Friends, The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald, and USA Today. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts features her work in its brochures on sex education.  Dr. Maxwell won a national award from Parenting Publications of America for her series of articles on sex education, and has received recognition for her Sexual Health and Responsibility Curriculum, which both she and Chelsea bring to public and independent schools.

CHELSEA MAXWELL, ED.M.

LEARNING DESIGNER, EDUCATOR

Chelsea Maxwell is an educator, learning designer, and lecturer. After receiving her BA from Vassar college, Chelsea specialized in curriculum development as well as technology and innovation at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Having previously worked in advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, she is now focused on educating students about healthy relationships. Bringing years of experience as a director of mentoring for children and teens, Chelsea creates interactive and dynamic learning experiences for students of all ages.

Chelsea has also begun development of a series of online courses, allowing their work to reach a greater audience.

It's the first piece of advice we give parents. The key to Keeping Tech in Check is to have a concise, flexible and working Family Media Plan. Join us on September 16 at 7:30pm via Zoom to learn how to design a Family Media Plan that will work for your family. This presentation will include practical strategies you can use today to engage your family in designing and implementing a family media plan. We will include downloads you can use to uncover your family's values and a template you can use to create a family media plan based on those values. There will be time at the end to review and begin to create your own family media plan. As a follow up, Dr. Sharon Maxwell and Chelsea Maxwell will be on hand to answer questions about kick-starting the conversation with your family, how the internet is impacting our brains, and family media plans on September 23.

Registration for this event is required by 9/15. Please register here.  You will receive a meeting invitation the day before the event.

About the presenter:

Adrienne Principe is the Founder and Executive Director of Turning Life On, a non-profit, grassroots movement committed to digital wellness. 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. She has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other news outlets, organization and digital wellness groups. 

We are partnering with Gabb Wireless to bring information about digital wellness to parents and educators.

Parenting is not easy. Teaching is not easy. Parents teaching is definitely not easy. We get it! Let’s talk about how we can help our kids manage digital distraction while distance learning. Research shows that focusing on one task at a time makes us more efficient and more successful. Adrienne Principe, Founder and Executive Director of digital wellness group Turning Life On, will be on hand to review strategies and answer questions so you feel empowered to tackle distance learning this fall.

Registration is required. Check back the week before the register.