Digital Detox Challenge for Schools, Clubs, Homeschool Co-ops, Mom Groups, Churches
Our kids are drowning in digital entertainment and the effects are starting to show. Attention spans are eroding. Behavioral struggles are on the rise. We are in the midst of the worst youth mental health crisis we have ever seen.
Since the beginning of COVID, kids’ recreational screen use has doubled, even while in-person learning is back in session. Twelve-year-olds are now spending eight hours per day entertaining themselves on devices (UCSF). Doctors, teachers, mental health professionals and parents are attributing much of the alarming rise in childhood social-emotional struggles to device dependence.
School psychologists, counselors, occupational therapists are spread thin. In many cases, the classroom environment has become unmanageable for educators.
As leaders, you can help by starting a movement within your school and community.
You can equip kids and families to tackle this problem head-on. And you can do so in a positive way.
We know that educators need parental support for kids to thrive in the classroom and beyond.
We know that educators need parental support for kids to thrive in the classroom and beyond.
That’s why we created the Two-Week Digital Detox Challenge. The Challenge tackles the youth digital dependence problem in a fun and positive way, joining families and schools together. When schools purchase 50 or more copies of Digital Detox: The Two-Week Tech Reset for Kids, they will also access the following resources for free:
Teacher/Leader guide for lower grades K-3
Teacher/Leader guide for upper grades 4-6
Printable flyer/Social media graphic for PTC/PTA groups to promote online
Parent/Student voluntary Detox Challenge opt-in
Quiz for Parents
Helpful Hint
*Some schools/groups find it advantageous to provide a $100 cash incentive to one randomly-selected student/participant who has completed the detox challenge successfully. Ask PTC or willing parent for donation. The monetary prize is optional. With bulk orders, school administrators/group leaders may access the Digital Detox Challenge PDF materials that mention the $100 cash incentive, OR materials that make no mention of the $100 cash incentive. Choose which is best for your group depending on funding availability, and school site preferences.*
HOW IT WORKS
STEP 1
Select a two-week period for your school to take the challenge.
STEP 2
Order a select quantity of books for parents: Digital Detox: The Two-Week Tech Reset for Kids. This practical resource will help parents navigate a total tech break on the home front. The book is endorsed by teachers, doctors, parents, specialists (speech, vision, mental health experts,) and more. Schools and non-profit groups may purchase the book at a discounted bulk rate.
For bulk order discount, contact Rod Jantzen @ [email protected].
STEP 3
Provide teachers/leader with teacher/leader guide (free with purchases of 50+ books)
STEP 4
Announce and publicize the date of the detox. (free printable PDF flyer and social media graphic with bulk book purchase)
STEP 5
Send home printable PDF signup to parents and students to return to voluntarily. (free with bulk purchase)
STEP 6
At the end of the two weeks, send home printable PDF signup for parents and students to verify completion. If school/group is using the $100 cash incentive, the completed sign-up form is the student’s raffle ticket to enter.
STEP 7
Celebrate the kids who completed the challenge. Ask them to share their highlights/observations.
IT’S A FACT-BASED, FUNNY,
PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR HOW TO GET KIDS
OFF THEIR SCREENS AND BACK INTO REAL LIFE.
Anna Lembke, MD,
New York Times bestselling author of Dopamine Nation
School/group may plan fun incentives like:
- A pep rally for digital detox students.
- Pizza lunch with the principal with all students who make it to the one-week mark.
- School/group swag for kids who complete certain milestones.
- Digital Detox Challenge student highlight: A framed photo of a participating student in front office or on teacher’s desk, giving the student five minutes to share a favorite non-screen hobby or talent with the class, or something positive they accomplished or noticed during their detox.
- Make it your own! This is a positive and fun challenge.