“How will children who are so constantly artificially stimulated ever learn to think, imagine, create or just be still?” In her ARC 2025 speech, Sophie Winkelman lays out a compelling case for the return to an 'analog' upbringing for our children and young people, warning of the adverse effects of excessive technology use, particularly in our education systems.
Researchers in Ohio led a study looking at hundreds of children’s brains since birth to examine the impact of screen time. NBC’s Vicky Nguyen shares an inside look at the study and how parents can help reduce screen time for their kids.
In today’s digital era, the decline in children’s outdoor playtime with excessive screen usage has raised concerns about their long-term physical health, mental well-being and overall development. This article highlights the importance of prioritizing and promoting outdoor play to ensure a balanced childhood experience. The decline in outdoor play can be attributed to factors such as increased technology usage, academic pressures, safety concerns and changing societal attitudes. However, outdoor play is crucial for children’s holistic development as it contributes to improved physical health, cognitive stimulation, social interaction and emotional well-being. The decline in outdoor play and excessive screen time has been associated with various health issues, including mental health problems, disrupted sleep patterns, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-like behavior and physical health risks. To reclaim outdoor playtime, practical strategies are proposed. These include reevaluating priorities to strike a balance between technology usage and outdoor activities, promoting nature education in schools, creating safe outdoor spaces, encouraging parental involvement, addressing safety concerns, limiting screen time, nurturing environmental stewardship, fostering collaboration between schools and communities and advocating for supportive policies. By implementing these strategies and shifting cultural norms, we can provide children with a healthier and more well-rounded childhood experience, supporting their overall well-being and development in the digital era.
Truth, beauty and goodness are core tenets of Waldorf education. We surround ourselves with wonder and beauty to awaken our spirits and inspire our learning. There is a movement to display rainbows- which symbolize peace and serenity, hope and promise- in our windows at home to bring light and connection to all who walk by. Waldorf window stars have long been a favorite way to brighten our classrooms and homes, and in rainbow colors, we love how they contribute to the optimism of this movement. This is an activity that can be shared easily with little hands to bring happiness to our homes and community! Below we share this simple Waldorf window star tutorial with your families.
