media use with increased rates of depression and anxiety. Social apps that are popular with kids—like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok—skillfully exploit a child’s natural desire for human connection. According to Kakaiya, online interactions are not the best way to grow relationship skills. “Children benefit from social-emotional connections they develop with friends, where they are learning emotional negotiation skills,” she says. “When we do these things online the brain does not receive the information the same way.” She warns that these apps give a false sense of belonging, when in real life, kids are feeling increasingly disconnected.
g mind My growin lp. r he u yo s ed ne
You are your child’s first teacher. Let your child see you eat fruits & vegetables. Model how to calm down for your child. Talk to your child’s doctor about healthy habits.
Rady Children’s Growing Minds, in partnership with Kohl’s Cares, helps families learn healthy habits.
The Gaming Problem Much like social media, gaming apps are highly addictive by design. One in 10 video gamers will develop a pathological addiction—one that damages their ability to function in multiple areas of life. Parents report difficulty convincing young gamers to engage with the family or complete homework. In severe cases, teens skip school and lose sleep to continue playing. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), pathological gamers experience increased levels of depression, anxiety and social phobia. Spending three to seven hours a day gaming leaves little time to foster the real-life relationships necessary for building empathy, resilience and well-being. Violence is prevalent in many popular games—and that’s a huge problem. Kakaiya says our bodies release the same stress hormones during simulated battle as they would in actual combat. The brain and body behave as if the player is in actual danger. She warns that repetition accelerates learning—and since video games are repetitive by nature— gamers quickly learn to behave more violently. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), the connection between violent video games and aggressive behavior is clear. More than a thousand studies
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www.mygrowingmind.com
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Discover the World of Montessori
7/15/21 9:05 AM
East County MONTESSORI CHILDREN’S HOUSE OF LEMON GROVE Toddler/Preschool Lic. #376614702
8121 Braddock Place, San Diego 92114 Lemon Grove
“A Montessori Student is a Future Citizen of the World”
North County Coastal CENTRAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Toddler/Preschool/Kindergarten
619-403-8988
www.MCHLG.com
San Diego Coastal BETH MONTESSORI Infants/Toddler/Preschool/Kindergarten Lic. # 376700496
Encinitas, Cardiff, Carlsbad, La Costa
8660 Gilman Dr., La Jolla 92037-2202 La Jolla
www.cmpreschool.com
www.bethmontessori.com
ENCINITAS COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Preschool/Elementary/Middle
MISSION BAY MONTESSORI ACADEMY Preschool/Elementary
Two Locations in Encinitas Encinitas
2640 Soderblom Ave., San Diego 92122 La Jolla, Pacific Beach, University City
www.ecdschools.org
www.mbmacademy.com
Lic. #376700910
760-479-9889
Lic. #372005943
760-942-1111
858-452-3030
Lic. #372005444 • AMS Affiliated School
858-457-5895
October 2021 • SanDiegofamily.com •
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