Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition (Classroom Version)

26 minutes

*This is the shortened version of the movie, removing some parenting advice specific sections - for classroom use. (Please do not use for public/community screenings)

Are you watching children become accustomed to technology at increasingly younger ages, drawn to stimulating online content, video games, and early social media exposure?

Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston began asking these questions as she observed how much time kids spend on screens, the growing tension this creates at home and in school, and rising sleep deprivation among youth. What does all this screen time mean for children’s learning, development, and overall well-being?

In Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition, Dr. Ruston takes a deeply personal approach, exploring the vulnerable corners of family life, including her own, while seeking solutions to challenges such as setting limits, managing device distractions in school, moderating video game use, and navigating exposure to online content at too young an age.

Featuring insights from experts such as Jonathan Haidt, Anna Lembke, and many others, along with real-world stories from families and schools, the film examines how technology impacts children’s development and offers practical guidance to help kids build healthier relationships with screens and find balance in a digital world.

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