Screens in Education: Balancing Necessity and Well-Being

Conflicted about your child using screens in school? From  iPads in kindergarten or digital homework apps in middle school we’ll cover how to balance the reality of tech with what your child truly needs developmentally.

I’m joined by Emily Cherkin, M.Ed., former teacher, author, and “The Screen Time Consultant,” who’s leading the charge on tech-intentional parenting and education. Together, we unpack how screens in schools have gone from occasional tools to everyday defaults and why that shift might be hurting our kids more than helping them.

We talk about:

• How the pandemic accelerated a trend that was already in motion: more tech, younger kids, fewer real-life skills

• What we’re giving up when screen-based learning replaces play, paper, and people

• The difference between being anti-tech and tech intentional and how to advocate for your child without feeling adversarial

To learn your rights about opting out check out https://edtech.law/ 

To connect with Emily Cherkin follow her on Instagram @thescreentimeconsultant, check out all her resources including her newsletter at https://thescreentimeconsultant.com/. Emily also offers free monthly webinars: https://thescreentimeconsultant.com/events 

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00:00 – From No Phones to Full Screens: A Teacher’s Wake-Up Call

01:09 – When iPads Replaced Pencils in Kindergarten

03:13 – Meet Emily: Educator, Parent, Screen Time Consultant

06:28 – Skills Before Screens: Why Development Comes First

07:52 – Big Tech in a Sweater Vest? Yep, That’s EdTech

09:15 – Kids Know How to Copy-Paste, But Not Type

10:34 – Safety & Inappropriate Access in Schools

11:06 – Pre-Screen Childhoods vs. Today’s Reality

12:08 – Is All This Tech Really Necessary in Schools?

14:09 – If It’s So Great, Why Don’t Tech Execs Use It?

15:15 – Learning Takes Struggle, Not Just Speed

17:15 – Libraries, Labs, and What We’ve Lost

18:29 – Kids’ Data for Sale? Yes, Even in School Apps

19:15 – Turning Down Big Tech as a Pediatrician

21:13 – Less is More, Later is Better

23:58 – Bring Back the Computer Lab

26:25 – Opting Out: The Power of One (Fish)

29:18 – Parenting with Intention in a Screen World

33:02 – Why Asking for Paper is “Revolutionary” Now

35:01 – Home Habits that Protect Kids

38:24 – Final Takeaway: You’re Not Alone

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