Our two internationally acclaimed keynote speakers were outstanding! Michael McQueen is a previous Australian Keynote Speaker of the Year and was inducted into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame. He unpacked his latest book, Teaching for Tomorrow. It was reaffirming to hear about the connections we are making with meeting student needs at St Paul’s and the direction of our school. It aligns so tightly with proven data and research of world leading educators.

Dr Tom Nehmy, author of ‘Apples for the Mind’ presented a wealth of information on creating emotional balance, peak performance and lifelong wellbeing. As a clinical psychologist, he delved into the power of prevention and provided insight into creating positive mental health.

I look forward to going into more detail about the future of schooling at our next Parent Information Night on Tuesday 14 June at 6:30pm.

As a result of the global pandemic, there has been a noticeable shift in the amount of time people spend on screen-based devices. Families are transitioning back to pre-COVID routines, although data shows many are still struggling to re-establish the boundaries and rules around screen use. Some continue to deal with digital conflict and tech-tantrums on a daily basis. The latest research found that 77% of teenagers spend more than five hours on screens per day, but it is important to note that not all screen time is considered equal.

Parents play a crucial role in modelling a positive and healthy approach to using screens and assisting children to navigate the content they watch. It is better to model and mentor screen use, rather than monitor it. Children tend to do more of what they see us do, and less of what we tell them to do. However, it is still important to outline the risks and highlight the benefits of screen use to ensure you keep a balanced attitude. Encourage discussions around the issues that people experience in monitoring their screen time and be honest about your own difficulties.

As parents, we need to remain firm in their approach to managing screen time. Excessive screen time can be detrimental to a child’s overall wellbeing. Ensuring the correct privacy settings are in place is vital to prevent children from being inadvertently exposed to inappropriate content or online predators. We need to be mindful of the potential impact screen time can have on a child’s social, emotional, educational, behavioural, and even physical domains.

In this edition of SchoolTV, care-givers will be provided with a range of guidelines and strategies to help manage screen time at home. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition, and we always welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to this month's edition

https://stpaulshenty.nsw.schooltv.me/newsletter/managing-screen-time