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HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP STUDENTS AND PARENT WELLBEING

DR MICHAEL CARR-GREGG PHD MAAIP

CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGIST

THANK YOU GARTH

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO I HAVE FOR THIS TALK?

5

books on or for young people

PARENTING

There is no such thing as aperfect parent

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MOST PARENTS DO NOT HAVE A PHD IN PSYCHOLOGY, THEY JUST

TRY THEIR BEST WITH WHAT THEY KNOW AT THE TIME

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY

NEW ZEALAND HAD 3.8 MILLION MOBILE PHONES WITH ACTIVE INTERNET

CONNECTIONS AT 30 JUNE 2017, STATS NZ

29 JUNE 2007

• iPhone is 12 years old• iPad was

released 9 years ago

29 June 2007

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THE COST OF THIS PROGRESS?

Depends who you talk to

RAY KURZWEIL

. I have set the date 2045 for the ‘Singularity’ which is when we will multiply our effective intelligence a billion fold by merging

with the intelligence we have created.

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OTHER DOWNSIDES TO SMART PHONE USE

• Uncensored Content• Privacy Threats• Addiction• Distraction• Poor Social Interaction• Sextortion

BEWARE THE TECHNOLOGY MORAL PANIC

THE UPSIDE OF SMART PHONES

THE FIRST EVER TEXT MESSAGE DEC 3 1992

INSTANT COMMUNICATION

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THE MIRACLE OF FACETIME CONVENIENCE

GPS

ENTERTAINMENT

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EDUCATION APPS

• Providing easy access to more information• Supplementing lessons with

digital materials• Incorporating digital platforms

into lessons• Using educational learning apps

The journey from boyhood to manhood

Stages of Development

Early Middle Late

Am I normal? Who Am I? Where Am I going?

• Do they have friends?• Have they emancipated from

adult carers?• Understands and enjoys

school?• Do they have a spark -

something that they feel passionate about?

How would a parent know if their sonis travelling ok?

TIPS FOR GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH YOUNG MEN

§ Keep Calm§ Don’t talk too much and listen more*§ Speak only two sentences at a time and keep

it short§ Use humour*§ set very clear boundaries§ avoid confrontations or ultimatums§ only argue over things that matters eg: tidy

rooms don’t matter

WHAT TO DO ABOUT A FLOORDROBE?

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TIPS FOR GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH TEENAGE PEOPLE

§ regularly give positivefeedback

§ do not constantly remind them of past mistakes

§ talk while doing something together

§ let some things go by you

• Give them Vitamin ‘N’/Build Resilience• Set limits and boundaries• Be the world expert on them• Have rituals and traditions• Communicate properly

HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP STUDENTS

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BUILDING BLOCKS OF WELLBEING

•Sleep•Diet•Exercise•Mindfulness

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RESEARCH RESULTS

•Students reported:

• improvements in their sleep

• reductions in the experience of bullying and classroom disruptions

•Students more at-risk of emotional difficulties also reported:

• improvements in emotional wellbeing

• reduced psychological distress

•enhanced positive wellbeing

•enhanced ability to manage emotions

• improvements in concentration

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People who have meaning and purpose in their lives are happier, feel more in control and

get more out of what they

do.

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FREDERICK DOUGLASS

"It is easier to build strong boys than to repair broken men.”

THANK YOU