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Let's
Reimagine
Childhood
Teaming up to raise kids well
in a digital age.
At WCCTC, we examine the risks and protective factors most impacting youth today, which now includes screen addiction. West Chester Unplugged is a partnership among powerhouse parents, caregivers, teachers and concerned community members (in WC and beyond), who are ready to reshape our communities' culture around technology and screen use for youth. We are parents, and we understand that there are no easy answers. West Chester Unplugged, is a collaborative effort to support each other, our schools, and our legislators to make pathways that allow us to raise children well in a digital age. Parenting is hard. You've got this.
Our
Values
West Chester Unplugged values:
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face to face human interaction as a cornerstone of mental health.
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delayed use of smart devices due to high rates of associated harms.
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parents as architects of family culture, not big tech.
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school staff and administrators as partners in removing barriers, so that all kids can thrive.
Our Priorities
We are comitted to action oriented meetings, researched backed resources
and a no blame, no shame approach, always.
Be a constructive voice for positive change in an increasingly digital world.
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Prevent the negative impact of technology on healthy child development.
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Promote use of technology as tools, rather than toys, at home and school.
Tech in Schools
We will advocate for distraction-free schools to support children's mental health and developmental needs. We will advocate for strong guardrails on purpose-driven use of technology for educational purposes. to better meet the educational needs of youth.
Our Strategies
Tech
at Home
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We will build a network of families to share strategies and resources. We will offer routine meet ups for screen-free get togethers for youth and families. Bonds among children and families with similar screen smart values makes staying the course possible.
Take Action
Take one small step to make a difference in your child's well-being, your family harmony or your school's effectiveness. Together, we can create a community where "childhood" and "screen addiction" do not intersect.
LEND YOUR VOICE to this 2 minute survey.
Alone our choices are drowned out by Big Tech, but together, our voices can reshape tech policies to improve outcomes for youth.
Add your contact information to get West Chester Unplugged Updates.
WHY WAIT:
AT HOME
The younger and more often kids use addictive devices, the more likely they are to experience depression and anxiety.
Overuse of screens for leisure is numbing and sets up pathways for addiction quickly in developing brains.
Studies found both physical and behavioral changes in children overexposed to digital media , such as socioemotional dysregulation and low levels of academic performance and cognitive development achievement. Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11587142/
AT SCHOOL
When using a laptop in class, students typically spend 38 minutes of every hour off-task.
Source: Ragan, E. D., Jennings, S. R., Massey, J. D., & Doolittle, P. E., (2014), Unregulated Use of Laptops Over Time in Large Lecture Classes, Computers & Education, Vol. 78, pp. 78-86.
When using a computer for homework, students typically last fewer than 6 minutes before switching to a tech distractor. (social media, messaging friends, etc.) Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563212003305
WHY NOW:
As generations of youth who grew up with 24/7 access to technology become parents, they risk falling prey to the "boiling frog phenomenon". The core idea of the boiling frog metaphor is that people adapt to slow, incremental changes, often normalizing them until they reach a catastrophic level. Elevated levels of tech addiction are already normalized. Youth depression and anxiety are likely to be next.
WHY ACT:
Childhood is being altered for the sake of big tech profits. Together, we can reshape the landscape and discover a culture that brings focus back to learning, joy back to childhood and harmony back to households.
People and Pages to Support Your Journey
Proud to Partner with
PA Unplugged
Strong laws are proven to protect youth against risk. A force for good, PA Unplugged is a statewide coalition working toward a cultural shift in our approach to screens & social media during childhood and adolescence. Click on their logo below to learn more.
Our Team
A team of dedicated parents have been working behind to scenes to help coalesce the many families in our area looking to raise kids well in our digital age. These are a few of their faces.
Click on a photo below to connect with one of us.
Caroline Gatto
New Chapters Lead,
Hillsdale Chapter Lead
A school counselor, passionate about youth mental health, Caroline supports parents starting their own WC Unplugged chapters at their children's schools.
Erin Arrizi-Shores
Advocacy Lead,
MCH Chapter Lead
Passionate about an intentional approach to technology use at home and in school, Erin is our PA Unplugged representative, and advocates for strong statewide and school-wide policies to ensure that kids have the benefit of distraction free schools and a play-based childhood.
Carly Nagle
Ed Tech Lead,
Pennwood & Stetson Lead
Carly is the product of an analog childhood with a digital adulthood. She advocates for a tech-intentional educational approach that emphasizes teacher/student connection and prepares children for tech adoption while minimizing risk of technology/social media addiction.
Jessica Speroff
WC Unplugged Events, Greystone Chapter Lead
A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and West Chester native, Jessica believes strongly in the role of play for both childhood development and everyday life. She is working to provide opportunities for children and families to come together and create meaningful connections.
Loretta Cohen
WCCTC Community Mobilizer
Admin Lead
Having worked in addiction prevention for nearly a decade and watched the rise in youth anxiety and depression, Loretta is passionate about building resilience in youth, She is thrilled to provide a forum where families work together to bring joy back to childhood..