Social media and technology are parents’ top concerns heading into the school year Half of parents worry social media and screens will interfere with their kids’ ability to form meaningful connections Bullying and the social impact of the pandemic are also concerns FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Parents are worried that social media and technology will get in the way of schoolkids building meaningful connections with classmates and teachers during the upcoming school year, a new poll finds. Half of parents (50%) say too much time spent with technology will be their kids’ top challenge in forming positive connections with those around them, say national poll results from the Kids Mental Health Foundation.
By comparison, 30% considered bullying the top challenge to building connections, and 22% are concerned about the lingering social impact of the pandemic. Another 19% said their kids struggle to make connections because they don’t feel they fit in due to their race, ethnicity, culture, income level or gender identity, the poll found. “We know connections help foster a sense of belonging and when kids feel like they belong at school, they perform better academically and live healthier lives overall.
Belonging is especially important to the adjustment and acculturation of immigrant children,” said researcher , executive clinical director of the Kids Mental Health Foundation and a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “Technology is.