Raising ‘digital children’
True Kids 1 first ‘Parent Dialogues’ event to focus on children and technology
True Kids 1 will host the first in a series of planned talks, titled “Parent Dialogues,” starting Thursday (Feb. 16) at 6 p.m. at the Taos Public Library, focusing on teaching parents how to better manage their children’s relationship to technology.
Hosted by the True Kids 1 Youth Council and two speakers from the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, the talk “will explore some of the major technology issues facing today’s children — and today’s parents,” according to a press release from True Kids 1, a local youth media nonprofit. “We are the first generation of parents raising digital children: What do we need to know and how can we do better?”
The talk will begin with an overview of the online tools adolescents use and how they are using them. Then, the discussion will transition into an exploration of the consequences these technologies can create for kids, such as how excessive “screen time” has been linked to depression, anxiety and other emotional health problems. The third phase of the discussion will look at possible solutions to help parents better manage their children’s relationship to technology.
True Kids 1 Executive Director Sandy Campbell will lead the discussion alongside Carlos Miller, a Taos High School junior and True Kids 1 Youth Council member. They will be joined by Katherine Trujillo, special projects coordinator, community safety awareness coordinator and educational consultant for the Attorney General’s Office. Also helping to guide the talk will be Angelique Sedillo, community safety awareness coordinator for the Attorney General’s Office. Trujillo and Sedillo are traveling to Taos from Albuquerque for the event.
Parents are encouraged to come with questions and to share their own experiences as part of a roundtable discussion.
The event is free, and True Kids 1 will provide food at the event and childcare in the children’s section of the library.
For more information, visit truekids1.org.