Wired for Growth: How Screen Use Influences Children’s Brain Development

Digital media is now a routine part of childhood, yet growing research highlights important considerations around how screen use can influence developing brains. This presentation will provide a clear, balanced, and research‑informed overview of the relationship between screen time and children’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development.

The session is designed to support adults in making informed, practical decisions around screen use – without judgment or fear‑based messaging.

Learning Objectives

Participants will gain an understanding of:

• How screen exposure interacts with brain development across early childhood and school‑age years
• The relationship between screen use and attention, emotional regulation, and behavior
• The impact of screens on sleep, learning, and mental wellbeing
• Developmental and behavioral warning signs that screen use may be contributing to difficulties
• Current evidence‑based screen time guidelines by age
• Practical strategies for establishing healthy screen boundaries at home and in educational settings

Who Should Attend

• Parents and caregivers
• Teachers and school leaders
• SENCOs and learning support staff
• Professionals working with children and adolescents

Key Takeaways

Attendees will leave with:

• A clearer understanding of the science behind screen use and development
• Practical, realistic strategies that can be implemented immediately
• Increased confidence in supporting children’s attention, regulation, and wellbeing in a digital world

Details:

Bring your curiosity and your questions! This is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with fellow educators and gain practical tools that can have a lasting impact on your students’ learning and independence. We look forward to seeing you there!

This workshop is sponsored by KidsAbility and free for all to attend.