Kids vs. Screens

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Wednesday, April 12, at 10 PM
Thursday, April 13, at 3 AM
Sunday, April 16, at 3 PM
 

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Saturday, April 15, at 2:30 PM

Our kids are hooked on screens—now, more than ever. During the pandemic, screen time has skyrocketed. Frustrated parents are locked in battle with children who are glued to YouTube or sneaking their iPhones under the covers. In KIDS VS. SCREENS, guest host and popular science broadcaster Dan Riskin explores the latest research to discover how “digital babysitters” affect children’s development, learning abilities and mental health. 

As a father of three, Riskin is on a quest to understand the science of screen time, traveling everywhere from a brain imaging lab to a kindergarten classroom where he gets a hands-on lesson in how kids learn. He seeks advice from top experts, including Dr. Michael Cheng, child psychiatrist at CHEO, Univ. of Calgary Prof. Sheri Madigan and Jess Haines, co-director of the Guelph Family Health Study.

Like many parents, Riskin has a lot of questions: is screen use really an addiction? How does it affect children’s brains? As a scientist, Riskin is seeking facts. As a dad, he’s seeking advice. His quest for answers is driven by his children’s growing desire to spend more time on screen—and the subsequent effects on the family dynamic.