Anxiety, screen time and the classroom: mental health expert weighs in

TOPEKA ( KSNT ) – The Kansas State Board of Education (BOE) is considering adopting guidelines that would completely ban phone use in Kansas Public Schools.

Increasing anxiety among children and teens is one of the reasons. Jennie Watson is in charge of school and community outreach at Family Service and Guidance Center in Topeka.

Watson said while phones and social media are certainly not the only cause of rising anxiety, their unchecked use is part of the problem.

"The exposure to outside stressors," Watson said, "that our youth and teens have no ability to control is a factor in increasing anxiety, absolutely."

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With phone use becoming more of a problem in classrooms across the country, the Kansas BOE formed the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Screen time earlier this year. The goal was to have parents, teachers, students and administrators find practical ways to address the issue.

After months of research and meetings , the task force recommended the board adopt guidelines to keep students' phones locked-up and inaccessible for the duration of the school day. The board is now weighing the task force's proposal. Even if it does push a state-wide ban, it's ultimately up to each district to enforce a policy that works best for their students and families.

Watson told 27 News phones can be great tools, but it's important to find a balance both inside and outside the classroom.

"I don't want it to ever seem like something is all bad or all good," she said, "'cause it's not that simple."

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A lack of parental oversight can cause problems for adolescents.

We are able to see some of... the ripple effects of when the stuff is not used safely, appropriately, or in an age-appropriate way. And that stuff can have some really damaging effects.

Watson on potential harms of screen time and social media

According to Watson, it's important to help kids develop skills to cope with anxiety whether that's on a screen or in everyday life. She said tracking what kids are doing on their phones and setting boundaries is a good start.

"Whether it's a social media thing, a screen time thing," Watson said, "or just a tough life circumstance. It's about teaching those foundational skills and that happens through a lot of conversation."

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