PRESS RELEASE:
Contact:Danielle Sees (562) 570-4202
For Release On:Tuesday, September 20, 2016
NewPublic EducationCampaign in Long Beach Encourages Parents to Unplug!
Technology is an integral part of life for American families and can help busy parents better manage kids’ schedules andstay connected. Yet, recent data from a Nielson Company studyshows that on average, in America, we spend one-third of our waking hours on our technological devices! This focus on technology can become a barrier to forming close bonds between a parent and child. A new public education campaign in Long Beach aims to address the adverse impact of technology on the parent-child relationship by encouraging Parents to Unplug!
The Long Beach Child Abuse and Neglect Network (LBCANN) led the creation and implementation of this campaign, partnering with more than 30 community-based organizations to spread the message, the campaign includes brochures, posters, bus ads, inserts in utility bills and a social media campaign across Long Beach. LBCANN was formed as a workgroup of Best Start Central Long Beach, an investment of First 5 LA, and aims to prevent child abuse, neglect, and other forms of violence in the home among families in Long Beach with an emphasis on the 0-5 age range.
Kelly Colopy, Director of the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services explained: “This new and innovative campaign responds to the ever present technology in our lives today. It is so important for parents and children to spend quality time together and technology often gets in the way. We’ve all seen situations where everyone is sitting together but on separate devices. This gets in the way of those relationship-building moments that matter most. Time spent together engaging and having fun create the foundation for a healthy, life-long relationship.”
A Highlights Magazine’s 2014 State of the Kid survey revealed that 62% of kids think parents are too distracted to listen, and children reported that cell phones are the biggest distractors. The public education campaign is aimed at parents, encouraging them to put down their smart phones and tablets and engage with their children. The messages include: Unplug and Dance, Unplug and Cook, Unplug and Read, Unplug and Play; and Unplug and Explore.
Co-chairs of LBCANN, Julie Turvey, from ChildNet Youth and Family Services, and Kate Marr, from Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, explained at a recent LBCANN meeting, “This media campaign was a collaborative effort of individuals and agencies working together to improve parent-child relationships through stronger connections. We encourage parents to take time each day to unplug from their electronic devices and spend time connecting with their children through playing, exploring, reading, dancing, and/or cooking. Please share the videos and flyers with friends, families, and colleagues to encourage stronger family connections."
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