Workshop on tech addiction in Medford

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

That quote from Mahatma Gandhi is at the core of what speaker John Kriger presented at a seminar in the Chairville Elementary School Media Center recently.

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Kriger’s talk was sponsored by the Medford Special Parents Advisory & Resource Committee (SPARC). It was provided through a grant from the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of Human Services, Alcohol & Drug Abuse Unit.

He has worked with local, state and national government agencies, colleges and school districts, as well as corporations and non-profits.

While Kriger discussed how children are affected by drug and alcohol use, he spent much time talking about technology addiction.

He also addressed how parents’ modeling behavior has a large impact on children.

“I thought the showing was wonderful,” Kriger said. There were about 30 people in attendance. “I thought it was tremendous.”

He pointed out some of the pitfalls of modern society.

“I think there’s an over dependence on some things like technology to babysit,” Kriger said, noting many kids are exposed to technology too early.

“One thing we really need to do is increase the face time of parents and kids so that they have more time together,” he said. Family is where people first learn to build relationships.

“Technology is not the problem it’s the way it’s being used,” Kriger said, noting when kids and parents are on the computer and not talking to each other it’s detrimental.

He indicated a study conducted by the Academy of Pediatrics which determined children under 2 years of age should not be in front of electronics because the images that they see are so rapid that it basically overwhelms the developing brain.

Kriger said another study shows how only nine minutes of watching “SpongeBob SquarePants” can hinder the ability to delay gratification.

Parents should look for alternatives like working on kids’ puzzles or reading books, Kriger said, noting there is a particular feel when reading a book.

“I’m not saying the Kindle or any of the electronic reading devices are bad,” he said. “I think they’re wonderful but I think there’s balance.”

Balancing the use of technology with other activities allows the brain some opportunity to calm down and to gives children some skills that they’re going to need as they get older like interpersonal skills, relaxation skills, and recreational skills, Kriger said.

Dr. Gale Ferraro, director of pupil personnel services, liked the presentation and found Kriger provided a lot of information applicable to both educators and parents

She said she learned from the presentation about the impact of technology and what to do to minimize its effects.

Marybeth Kennealy, co-leader of SPARC (which has been around for five years), was also pleased that there was a lot of good information and interaction in the talk.

“I thought it was excellent,” she said, noting she was surprised by the amount of technology addiction and its impact on learning.

As a result, Kennealy will now spend more time with her kids that is not around technology like board games and books.

Lynda Acchitelli, who teaches seventh and eighth grade language arts at Memorial Middle School, is already using classical music in one class as a way of relaxing students and getting them focused. Kriger encouraged that for all parents and teachers.

“I’ve noticed that they work, they’re not anxious, they relax,” Acchitelli said. “What he was saying really justified what I was doing in the class.”

She said when she tutors kids she frequently has to remind them to turn phones and electronic devices off and put them away during their sessions.

And, in school, the policy is that students keep phones and devices off and in lockers. If a student is caught with a phone or device in class, the teachers confiscate it and students can pick them up in the main office at the end of the day.

Kriger holds a BS degree in Human Services, an MS degree in Management, and the Disney Keys to Excellence Training. Among his certifications are NJ Certified Alcoholism and Drug Counselor, National and N.J. Certified Prevention Specialist, Trainer for the National Volunteer Training Center in Washington D.C., Trainer for the National Interagency Counter Drug Institute, and Trainer for Working with High Risk Children in the Classroom.