In 'The Anxious Generation', Jonathan Haidt examines the sudden decline in the mental health of adolescents starting in the early 2010s. He attributes this decline to the shift from a 'play-based childhood' to a 'phone-based childhood', highlighting mechanisms such as sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, and perfectionism that interfere with children’s social and neurological development. Haidt proposes four simple rules to address this issue: no smartphones before high school, no social media before age 16, phone-free schools, and more opportunities for independence, free play, and responsibility. The book offers a clear call to action for parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments to restore a more humane childhood and end the epidemic of mental illness among youth.
What if our cities were designed with children participating in the process? What they would prioritize might surprise us all! My guest, Mara Mintzer, did a TEDx talk on the topic of including children in the city planning process, and she’s been involved in this kind of unique child-friendly endeavor in Boulder, Colorado, as the co-founder and Executive Director of Growing Up Boulder. Join us as we take a look at this topic!
Show Highlights:
- Mara’s background and current role in Boulder, CO
- Public spaces aren’t often designed for children (and mothers).
- The United Nations guidelines for human rights for those under 18 years of age
- Wisdom from the tiniest voices about slowing down, enjoying the world around us, and noticing our experiences on life’s journey
- The Nature Everywhere Initiative in cities across the US
- Are we supporting kids’ development with our public spaces?
- The value in having culturally relevant third spaces for kids
- What would a teen-friendly park look like?
- Hearing the voices of many diverse groups that have been traditionally excluded
- Feedback from people about what they want in their communities
- Promoting involvement from kids to understand their issues and craft workable solutions
- A few unexpected things that kids want in their spaces
- The dilemma for parents in kid-friendly restaurants with “adult food” AND “kid food”
- More relaxed parenting in other countries and better work-life balance
Resources and Links:
Connect with Mara Mintzer: Growing Up Boulder
Mentioned in this episode: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Connect with KC: Website, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook
Get KC’s book, How to Keep House While Drowning
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