OCNews

Should kids be left to their own devices when it comes to screen time?

Dr. Michelle Ponti, a pediatrician from the Child and Parent Resource Institute in London, Ont., will discuss the risks and benefits of digital use for children as part of the Okanagan College Vernon campus’ Signature Speaker Series.

“Screen Time: Should we leave kids to their own devices?” will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. in the lecture theatre of the Vernon campus.

“Parents, caregivers and teachers are constantly challenged with the dilemma of screen time for our children. How much is too much? If we restrict it, will they miss out? It’s everywhere, how do we control it?” she says.

This presentation will discuss evidence-based risks and potential benefits of digital use for children and adolescents, provide key recommendations on screen use and offer ideas on healthy use of digital media in daily lives.

Ponti’s pediatric practice focuses on child development, dual diagnosis and neurodevelopmental disorders, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. As chair of the Digital Health Task Force for the Canadian Paediatric Society, Ponti’s work has updated recommendations on screen time for children up to five years of age. More recently, she has examined the health effects of screen media use in school-aged children and adolescents with recommendations published in a new position statement for the society.

Presented by Okanagan College, the Signature Speaker Series is sponsored by the Prestige Vernon Lodge and Uprooted Kitchen and Catering Co. Admission is $10, or free for Okanagan College students. Participants can register in advance online – www.okanagan.bc.ca/SignatureSpeakers – or pay at the door.