Parenting and Screen Time During a Pandemic...oh yeah, and Work and School too

September 2020

What happened to summer?  What happened to 2020?  On one hand, I can't believe it's September and we are STILL semi-quarantining.  On the other hand, I can't believe it's already September.  I feel like March-August is a big blur.  We all want 2020 to be over and for things to go back to normal, but unfortunately, there's no magic that will happen on January 1, 2021.  I have hope that we have found treatments for COVID-19; there are some promising ones that seem to be working without major side effects.

Our lives have been turned upside-down, that's for sure.  Everyone is struggling with trying to work while kids are home.  Some had to quit their jobs to do so.  Some got laid off because of it.  Some are used to running the household and taking care of smaller children while the older ones were at school, so they're adjusting to having all the kids home all the time.  Yes, we are parents and we signed up for this,

but to say it's an adjustment is an understatement.  Our kids are having way too much screen time right now.  Probably.  Maybe.  Most definitely.  We feel guilty, but should we?  We are in survival mode.  How bad is all this screen time for our kids really?  Or is it?  

I thought I'd share some of the books I've been reading lately.  They double as research AND parenting guidance.  I appreciate the perspective of these authors, especially since it seems to be opposite the norm.  Not only that, but they

all cite research to support their ideas.  My favorites so far are the ones by Pete Etchells and Jordan Shapiro.  Jordan Shapiro also has TED Talks and a website, if you're interested! I've also become increasingly interested in following Peter Gray, a psychologist who advocates for unstructured play for children, among many other things.  He also has an unpopular opinion with the research to support him.  You can Google him to read some of his articles and also follow him on FB.

Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in their Digital World by Devorah Heitner

The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad That You Did) by Philippa Perry  *I haven't read this one

yet, but it - and the author- was recommended to me by my primary supervisor in Wales.

Lost in a Good Game: Why We Play Video Games and What They Can Do For Us by Pete Etchells

Moral Combat by Patrick M. Markey and Christopher J. Ferguson *A lot of Ferguson's studies come up in my research

The New Childhood: Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World by Jordan Shapiro

In light of the seemingly never-ending global pandemic and its effects on society, parenting, and teaching, I have changed my research a little bit.  I will be focusing solely on parents' perspectives on violent video games and where they get their information.  I'll do a content analysis of media headlines, survey parents, and interview some of them as well.  I want to know what parents' thoughts and feelings are towards violent video games and why they think this way.  Is it the media?  Is it other parents?  Is it from their pediatrician?  Do they read research?  Also, how do their thoughts influence how parents manage violent video game play in their households?  The bottom line: what do parents think, why do they think it, and what do they do about it?  Then I'll compare what parents think to what scholarly research says, and hopefully help parents/families mitigate these potential challenges- whether real or perceived- that arise form children playing violent video games.  My IRB proposal has been submitted!  That's been my big "assignment" this summer.  (Focus was HARD with the kids home 24/7 and nowhere to go.) Once I get approval, I can send out my survey and begin collecting data.  In the meantime, I'm working on my lit review some more and refining my survey questions.  Oh yeah, and teach a few college classes and help my kids with virtual school 3x week and do all the other wifey/mom things.  No problem, right?