N4L 038: "The Upside of Digital Devices" by Nicole Dreiske

SUMMARY: After years of running children’s film festivals, educational innovator and media guru Nicole Dreiske developed “Screen Smart” workshops kids. She includes the program in her new book, The Upside of Digital Devices: How to Make Your Child More Screen Smart, Literate, and Emotionally Intelligent. Aptly nicknamed “The Essential Survival Kit for Parenting in the Digital Age,” Dreiske’s book helps not only parents but also teachers, pediatricians, and other adults train children how to view screens in healthy, safe, and useful ways. SHOW NOTES 00:26   Who is Nicole Dreiske? 03:00   Why did Dreiske write The Upside of Digital Devices? 04:40   Emotionally charged screen time  05:15   Teaching healthy screen time using dialogue  06:15   Explaining the “Screen Smart” program 08:55   Self-awareness is the key to being screen smart 09:15   Learning from a “Screen Smart” primer 11:15   Forming “Screen Smart” playgroups to improve literacy skills 13:35   Using read-aloud skills while watching screens 15:40   Weston Woods creates short videos based on books 16:45   Co-viewing builds bonds of trust 17:10   Using the Pause & Question (P&Q) method 17:20   Developing emotional intelligence 18:20   Handling family movie nights 19:05   Categorizing movies: fun, bad, sad, scary 19:55   Using a 15-second pre-screen orientation 20:30   Building a trusting relationship between child and technology 21:55   Teaching digital manners 22:10   Building a positive feedback loop 23:15   Dealing with fears, protecting from inappropriate content 25:00   Using “navigation buoys” 27:30   Expressing soothing statements as a catch-all 28:50   Helping adults master their own screen time 31:20   Recognizing where the magic happens 32:35   Helping schools benefit from the “Screen Smart” program 33:10   Building sensory and emotional intelligence 33:20   Leverage literacy, inferential reasoning, critical thinking skills KEY TAKEAWAYS Relationships are the key to successful screen viewing. Screen viewing skills can be likened to read-aloud skills. Categorizing movies (fun, bad, sad, scary) creates a conversational springboard. Taking an offensive, positive approach to screens empowers children to share feelings, opinions, and questions. Pre-screen orientation leverages cognitive skills. BUY The Upside of Digital Devices: How to Make Your Child More Screen Smart, Literate, and Emotionally Intelligent Connect with Nonfiction4Life: Facebook Instagram Twitter Website Music Credit Sound Editing Credit