Children and Screens-Institute of Digital Media and Child Development

Children and screens has a mission to advance and support objective, rigorous and scientific research into the impacts of Digital Media on Child health and Development through grant funding, interdisciplinary convenings and curation and publication of state-of-the-art research. Children and screens also works actively to incorporate questions into existing national longitudinal studies and assist in the Development of new questions. In 2022, grant funds were awarded to an interdisciplinary team of experts to augment ongoing longitudinal studies and investigate the impacts of Digital Media use during the covid-19 pandemic. The institute also hosted "Digital Media and the developing brain," a research retreat convening world-renowned experts on the cognitive implications of Digital Media use throughout Development. In addition, the institute funded the publication of a scoping review, a synthesis and systematic understanding of published screening tools used to assess problematic internet use toward the Development of a Media impact screening toolkit for clinicians and researchers.

Children and screens works towards developing human capital in the field through encouraging new and mid-career professionals to participate in the institute's multidisciplinary conferences, meetings, and events; providing scholarships for graduate students and fellows;and, through administering a robust internship/apprenticeship program. The institute's convenings foster collaboration of new professionals with more well-established researchers and as well as develop a holistic understanding of the cognitive, psychological and physicalimpacts of Digital Media and toddlers, Children, and adolescents. The institute's internship program provides opportunities for budding students to explore this field of research, Media or education, provide job experience and mentorship, and to help build future researchers. The institute also engages students and early career professionals in its retreat programs, such as the "Digital Media and the developing brain" neuroscience research retreat. Another project which involves several young investigators, the Media impact screening toolkit, will eventually provide a roadmap for creating a comprehensive set of instruments to identify and assess health and wellness concerns related to Digital Media in the pediatric population.

Children and screens' communication, outreach, and education programs provide evidence-based, actionable information about Children's use of Digital Media and its impact on their health and Development to parents, educators, health professionals, public health experts, andother professionals and stakeholders. These programs also provide guidance regarding parents and caregivers' use of Digital Media and its impact on Child health. The institute accomplishes this facet of its mission through extensive information on its website, workshops,social Media, public speaking engagements, Media interviews, press releases, blogs and participation in conferences.