Pulling the Plug
Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic caused people everywhere to distance themselves from those outside of their immediate family unit. A bitterly cold winter exacerbated this isolation from the outside world by forcing everyone inside. Children and teens did the best they could with online learning, but students missed out on vital social interactions with their peers, teachers, and extended family members over the last year. During this global pandemic, technology has played a crucial role in getting through the school year, and without it, learning would have been nearly impossible. However, research has shown that increased screen time for children and adolescents may be linked to an increase in mental health problems. As a school-based therapist in a Davenport elementary school and high school, I am encouraging all my clients to “unplug” from technology after a year of heavy use. Spring is nearly here, and the warmer weather provides a perfect opportunity to seek socialization and entertainment in places other than a phone or computer screen!
During my therapy sessions with children and teenagers over the last few months, I have noticed a common theme among all age groups, races, genders, and socio-economic statuses:
feeling isolated.
While we may be more “connected” than ever right now, an electronic connection simply is not the same as an in-person, human connection. Students have spent so much time in front of screens due to online learning, and COVID restrictions have limited the kind of social interactions they can enjoy. However, a vaccine is here, and the end of social distancing is in sight. The weather is finally starting to warm up, which allows for socializing outside. Depression and anxiety seem to be at an all-time high among my school-based clients, and my biggest recommendation to these children is to reconnect with family and friends in-person, so long as they can do so safely. If you are a parent, I encourage you to find ways to reconnect with your child in a way that does not involve technology. Here are some examples:
Take the family dog for a walk together
Invite friends over for an outdoor picnic
Sign your child up to play a spring sport like baseball or softball
Implement “screen free” meal times
Hold a weekly family game night with board games and snacks
Remember: our children and teenagers have been cooped up at home with only the use of technology to connect with the outside world for a year now, so they probably will not be too keen on some of these ideas at first! Small steps toward less screen time may be best. If you feel that your child or teenager is struggling with depression, anxiety, or any other type of mood disorder, therapy may help.
Carolyn Kozlik
Carolyn is a school-based therapist in the Davenport Community School District. She enjoys helping elementary, middle, and high school students to improve their mental health and their lives. In her free time, Carolyn loves traveling, seeing movies, and spending time with her family.