This week we're covering chapter three from The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, "The Great Rewiring: How Childhood Changed, 2010–2015." This chapter examines the rapid shift from play-based to phone-based childhoods during the early 2010s, which Haidt calls the "Great Rewiring." He argues that the widespread adoption of smartphones and social media fundamentally altered how children socialize, learn, and develop, leading to increased mental health issues. The chapter highlights how this period saw a decline in free play and face-to-face interactions, replaced by screen time that disrupted critical developmental processes like synaptic pruning, essential for healthy brain development. Haidt identifies three key instincts (free play, attunement, and social learning) that are undermined by excessive device use, contributing to social deprivation and emotional challenges. He supports this with data showing a surge in anxiety and depression among Gen Z, particularly as smartphone ownership became nearly universal by 2016. The chapter sets the stage for exploring specific harms to boys and girls in later sections, emphasizing the loss of real-world experiences

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This week we're covering chapter two from The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. This chapter is titled "What Children Need to Do in Childhood," and in it, Haidt explores the essential developmental needs of children, emphasizing the critical role of play in fostering resilience and social skills. He argues that unstructured, independent play allows children to test limits, navigate risks, and build emotional and social competence, which are vital for healthy development. Haidt highlights how the shift from a play-based to a phone-based childhood has disrupted these processes, leaving children less equipped to handle adversity. He draws on research to show that mammals, including humans, require play to wire their brains for adulthood, and its absence can lead to increased anxiety and weaker social bonds. The chapter sets the stage for understanding how modern childhood, dominated by screens, undermines these foundational experiences.

If you want to join the discussion, please click here to join our online book club community!

Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month.

You can check out Adrianne's new app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app.

View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here.

If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us!

Join the discussion on instagram @slp_bookclub.

Find us on TikTok @theslpbookclub.

A lot of the resources mentioned in the podcast are free to download in the Laura G SLP store on TPT, find them here!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back after a two month hiatus and ready to tackle The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. This week we're covering the Introduction and Chapter One. The introduction outlines how the shift from a play-based childhood to a screen-dominated one has disrupted healthy development. Haidt argues that this "great rewiring" of childhood, starting around 2010, correlates with increased anxiety, depression, and self-harm. Chapter One delves into the data, showing sharp spikes in mental health disorders, particularly among girls, post-smartphone era. He highlights how constant connectivity and curated online lives erode real-world social skills and self-esteem. The chapter sets the stage for examining solutions to restore a healthier childhood.

If you want to join the discussion, please click here to join our online book club community!

Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month.

You can check out Adrianne's new app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app.

View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here.

If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us!

Join the discussion on instagram @slp_bookclub.

Find us on TikTok @theslpbookclub.

A lot of the resources mentioned in the podcast are free to download in the Laura G SLP store on TPT, find them here!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.