Children inhabit an increasingly technological world, where the influence of pervasive, rapidly changing, and algorithmically curated online experiences have eclipsed the availability of resources to help families and communities guide youth moral and social development. Supporting positive character development for all children is not just a goal for individuals, but critical to the larger good as society struggles to incorporate new norms of social interaction, public engagement, and civic responsibility. To arrive at more holistic solutions for public education on the effects of technology and digital media on children, researchers must first break out of disciplinary silos that hinder their progress.
Children and Screens (C&S) will convene 100+ scholars, faith leaders, care providers, educators, and leaders from youth- and family-serving organizations for a four-day virtual retreat of half-day sessions that will launch new research and education into this timely subject. The retreat will be virtual, rather than in-person, in order to secure the participation of the largest number of uniquely qualified persons and to be optimally cost-effective. Through the Character Matters: Values and Resilience in the Digital Age retreat, C&S will pose the Big Question: How does technology and digital media influence youth character development, and what contextual structures are needed to promote the specific qualities than can support optimal development in a digitally influenced world?
Deliverables include 1) a virtual retreat connecting research questions with formative answers, generating potential solutions by bringing different voices together, and 2) a four-part webinar series and other educational resources based on new research findings for parents, educators, and the public. By facilitating the retreat, C&S will generate stronger, more holistic recommendations that can be used to improve the development of character in youth.
