Host: Erin Harrigan - Early Childhood and Elementary Education Specialist.
Guest Speaker: Jennie Egan - M.S.Ed. and DIRFloortime® Practitioner.

The Willow Kids podcast introduces the tutoring pilot program and explores the impact of screen engagement on children's learning, emotional experiences, and behavior. It delves into the value of face-to-face interaction, signs of screen time replacing connection, and the challenges and compassion for parents. The discussion also highlights healthy and developmentally supportive screen use in everyday family life. The conversation explores the impact of screens on parenting, the importance of shared time, creating supportive screen boundaries, intentional screen time, protecting moments of real connection, responding early to behavioral changes, metacognition and self-reflection, real connection and shared experiences, and concludes with encouragement for nurturing curiosity and lifelong learning.

Takeaways

• Screen engagement impacts emotional understanding
• Face-to-face interaction is essential for children's growth and development Intentional use of screen time is crucial for modeling behavior and promoting learning.
• Creating supportive screen boundaries and protecting moments of real connection are essential for healthy screen use.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Willow Kids Podcast
• 06:32 The Influence of Screens on Emotional and Developmental Experiences
• 14:55 The Value of Face-to-Face Interaction and Emotional Understanding
• 24:36 Healthy and Developmentally Supportive Screen Use
• 30:50 Impact of Screens on Parenting
• 39:09 Creating Supportive Screen Boundaries
• 45:00 Guidelines and Intentional Screen Time
• 51:03 Responding Early to Behavioral Changes
• 58:10 Metacognition and Self-Reflection