The district will be participating in a Screen-Free Week on April 30-May 6. Screen-Free Week is a nationwide event celebrated annually by schools, families and other community groups to encourage students and families to limit screen time as much as possible, especially social media. Instead of using social media (Facebook, Instagram, Livestream video, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.), this can be time to read, think, create, get physically active and spend more time with friends and family.
 
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, too much screen time has been linked to poor school performance, childhood obesity, sleep disruptions, attention problems, behavioral problems, loss of social skills and violence. American children spend more time in front of a screen than they do in school! 
 
We ask all parents and guardians to take this challenge and limit screen time for the week. If you are able to complete at least one of the days or set limits on how much screen time is used each day, you are being mindful of how much time is spent on screen use. This kind of support is the best thing you can do to ensure that your child/children will have a successful and beneficial experience. 
 
Please see the “101 Screen-Free Activities” handout for screen-free ideas and learn more about this national event by visiting www.screenfree.org. Please join the movement in East Rockaway Schools to swap digital entertainment for the joys of life beyond the screen and to reconnect with the world around you.