Find Analog Answers — Find Parenting Strategies — Find Free Fun for Kids From smartER phones for kids to phone locks and more, multiple vendors will be on hand to help you choose technology that supports kids' healthy development and suits your family's needs. Speakers will offer real world solutions and practical advice for raising kids well in a digital age. Games and crafts with supervision to keep kids entertained on-site while you explore and learn.

Thinking about a first phone or smartwatch for your kid this holiday season? Come see what’s out there before you buy. Devices & Delights is an alternative device fair - a free, drop-in evening for families. You can try out tech made with kids in mind, like kid-friendly landlines, simpler phones and watches, and tools for managing screens at home. We will have information on each device, and you’ll take home a booklet that compares them all in detail. Bring the kids! We’ll have appetizers for as long as supplies last. When: Monday, November 9, 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Come and go any time. Where: Caboose Tavern in Vienna, upstairs in the Loft. 520 Mill St NE, Vienna, VA Please RSVP so we know how many booklets and appetizers to plan for. It’s free and open to everyone! Thanks to Caboose Tavern in Vienna for hosting us!

Join us at the next UA School Board Meeting to support our Schools Beyond Screens UA chapter, as we advocate for changes in our district’s technology policy! We encourage you to share your experiences regarding tech use in schools by making a public comment during the meeting. To do so, sign up online via the link below on the day of the meeting, or in person up to the start of the meeting. For tips on how to formulate your comment, see the attached image below! Though the School Board Members seemed willing to hear our concerns with an open mind, the response of UA District leaders has not been as promising. Following the path of other districts that have successfully created changes, we fully believe consistently attending and speaking at school board meetings is the best way to start the conversation with district leaders and have parents concerns addressed. There is strength in numbers, so we hope to see you there! -Schools Beyond Screens Upper Arlington Link to sign up for public comment: https://www.uaschools.org/our-district/board-of-education/public-participation

At our November meeting, we will be joined by special guest John McGowan, Director of Technology from West Chester Area School District. He'll answer questions about new screen time guidelines for K-5 at WCASD. We meet on the second Tuesday of the month -- alternating between virtual meetings at noon and in-person meetings at 7:00.

Screens are part of our kids’ lives, and most of us are figuring out the right balance as we go. Join fellow parents from Schools Beyond Screens Chicago for a relaxed, judgment-free conversation about technology and our kids. We’ll cover: What research says about excessive technology use What experts recommend for managing screen time How parents across Chicago are coming together to make this easier for everyone Wherever your family is on this journey, you’re welcome here. Come listen, ask questions, and connect with other parents who care about the same things you do. When: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 6:00 to 7:00 PM (English) 7:00 to 8:00 PM (Spanish) Questions? Email schoolsbeyondscreens.cps@gmail.com Las pantallas forman parte de la vida de nuestros hijos, y la mayoría de nosotros estamos tratando de encontrar el equilibrio adecuado sobre la marcha. Únete a otros padres de *Schools Beyond Screens Chicago* para una conversación relajada y sin juicios sobre la tecnología y nuestros hijos. Trataremos los siguientes temas: Lo que dicen las investigaciones sobre el uso excesivo de la tecnología. Las recomendaciones de los expertos para manejar el tiempo frente a las pantallas. Cómo los padres de todo Chicago se están uniendo para facilitar este proceso para todos. Sin importar en qué etapa se encuentre tu familia, ¡eres bienvenido/a! Ven a escuchar, hacer preguntas y conectar con otros padres que se preocupan por las mismas cosas que tú. ¿Cuándo?: Martes, 10 de noviembre de 2026 6:00 a 7:00 p. m. (en inglés) 7:00 a 8:00 p. m. (en español) ¿Tienes preguntas? Escribe a schoolsbeyondscreens.cps@gmail.com

Join Schools Beyond Screens Chicago, Illinois Families for Public Schools, and Three Cities Social Club for a free film screening of Your Attention Please. As the real-world consequences of social media come into focus, a resilient coalition of parents, Gen Z reformers and whistleblowers are swinging back. Can we rebuild the tools of our time to serve humanity, or will we remain captive to the scroll?

Join the Conversation A free statewide community conversation about The Digital Delusion A teacher watches a class disappear into their Chromebooks and wonders whether the lesson would have landed better on paper. A parent reads a screen-time report from the school portal and has no idea what to do with it. Those two people should be talking to each other. That's what this is. This fall, The Balance Project- Central Virginia is hosting a six-part community conversation around Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath's The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids' Learning — and How to Help Them Thrive Again. We read about fifty pages every two weeks, meet on Zoom for an hour, and talk it through. On January 25, Dr. Horvath joins us live to answer the questions we've gathered all fall. It's free, it's open to anyone in Virginia, and you don't need to have made up your mind about technology in schools to belong here. The best conversations happen when people who see things differently actually sit down and talk it out. If you teach, or lead a school, you'll leave with: - Language for what you've been noticing: the research behind why a room goes quiet and unproductive the moment the laptops open - A clear read on what the evidence actually supports, so when a purchase or a mandate comes down you can respond with something sturdier than a hunch - Colleagues in other divisions working through the same thing. This is a statewide room, not a building-level gripe session - An hour with a Harvard-trained learning scientist who spent years teaching If you're a parent, you'll leave with: - A grounded sense of what screens are doing to learning: separate from the screen-time panic, and separate from the marketing - Specific questions to bring to your teacher, your principal, or your school board, and the confidence that they're the right ones - A much clearer picture of what teachers are actually working with, which changes how those conversations go - Company. 4,041 Virginians have signed our petitions on this. You are not the only one asking. The details - Six Monday evenings, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., on Zoom October 19 · November 2 · November 16 · December 7 · January 11 · January 25 - Free and open to anyone in Virginia - About fifty pages every two weeks — and come even if you didn't finish - You will need to obtain your own copy of the book. - Live only, never recorded, so people can say what they actually think - Register once; the same link works for all six evenings Register by October 5 and the reading schedule reaches you in time to start. After that you're still welcome — you'll just be reading a little faster.

Come join our gathering that brings together educators, advocates, practitioners, parents, and caregivers to deeply explore the realities of children's digital lives. This is not a lecture series. It is an intimate, equal exchange designed to share raw insights, challenge assumptions, and co-create practical strategies. Your hands-on expertise is vital. When we meet together, nearly anything is possible! Be sure to register to get the Zoom link for the meeting. We also invite you to join the Screen Time Action Network at Fairplay. Membership is free! https://screentimenetwork.org/

Pequot Library and Fairfield Community Services invite you to a very special evening of conversation and community around our kids and artificial intelligence. Film Screening Panel Discussion Q&A Reception

Screens at school: what's the right balance? Districts across Central Virginia are working through that question right now. Henrico adopted new student screen-time limits in August, and Chesterfield is no longer sending Chromebooks home with students in kindergarten through second grade. Join us for a free community conversation with five people who look at it from very different angles. Meet the panel • Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, Virginia state senator and classroom teacher, who is working on this issue at the state level • W. Monty Jones, professor of education at VCU with a Ph.D. in instructional technology • Dr. Kate Bowers, pediatrician and founder of Firefly Pediatrics • Madison Irving, Henrico School Board chair and Chesterfield County teacher • Angela Petry, Licensed Professional Counselor, Owner of Phoenix Behavioral Health LLC Bring your questions You can send one in when you RSVP, and we'll pick several to ask the panel (similar questions may be combined). You're also welcome to ask in person. Who should come Parents, teachers, school leaders, grandparents and anyone who cares about kids and learning. Every point of view is welcome, and you'll leave with ideas you can use at school and at home. Tuesday, Nov. 17, 6:00–7:30 PM North Courthouse Road Library 325 Courthouse Rd, North Chesterfield, VA 23236 Free A free, nonpartisan educational event hosted by The Balance Project – Central Virginia, a chapter of The Balance Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Not sponsored by the library.

Join fellow PA Unplugged advocates to share your stories, experiences, educator feedback, concerns, and more on the following topics: -Online state testing -Safe, effective, and legal ed tech platforms, -the overuse of screens in schools -the unintended consequences of 1:1 device programs The goal of our individual public comments is illustrate and educate on what is happening inside the classroom and to ask the BOE to work with PDE and the Governor on offering a paper/pencil state test option. Time of meeting is TBD. Those that register for public comment will do so as a private citizen, not through PAU.

Join OR Unplugged and Classroom Tech Transparency Project's Joanna Houston and learn how you can download your child's YouTube watch history from their school-provided device. You won't even need the device on-hand to do so!

Our meeting to launch SBS NYC! Come meet other folks who are excited to help create tech intentional schools!

On Thursday, November 19th at 6:00pm, join Distraction-Free Schools Illinois as we host Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, neuroscientist, educator, best-selling author and expert in the field of human learning. The event is being held at Northwestern University in the McCormick Auditorium, located on the first floor of the Norris University Center. Doors open at 5:45pm. Walk-ins are welcome but in order to guarantee a seat*, please RSVP here. *McCormick Auditorium has a capacity of 300 people. A $10 donation per person to the Distraction-Free Schools Policy Project is appreciated. Donate here: https://www.distractionfreeschools.org/donate Parking can be found at the NU Lakeside Parking Structure located at 1857 Campus Dr, Evanston, IL 60201. Additional parking can be found at the Lot 211 - South Campus Parking Garage located at 1841 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL 60208. Any questions? Email us at DistractionFreeSchoolsIL@gmail.com Learn more about Distraction-Free Schools Illinois here: www.distractionfreeschools.org/illinois-action

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt has become one of the most talked about parenting books in the country. A #1 New York Times bestseller with more than two million copies sold, it's sparked a national conversation about smartphones, social media, and the shift from a play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood. Join us at Beach Haus Brewery for a drink and conversation about the book, what stood out and what it means for our families.

Join us for Screens, EdTech & AI: The Impact on Our Kids and Importance of Guardrails in Schools, an important conversation about how screens, educational technology, and artificial intelligence are shaping children's lives and learning environments. Featuring NY State Senator Andrew Gounardes, sponsor of the FOCUS Act, and moderated by Morgan Brennan of CNBC's Morning Call, this event will explore the importance of protecting children and establishing thoughtful safeguards in schools. Doors Open at 6:30 PM, Panel begins at 7:30 Registration Fee: $10 (use link to register) Presented in partnership with: Croton Community Collective OK to Delay Schools Beyond Screens Westchester IRL NY Westchester Children's Association. We hope you'll join us for this important community conversation!

Thinking about a first phone or smartwatch for your kid this holiday season? Come see what’s out there before you buy. The Mindful Tech Showcase is a free, drop-in evening for families. You can try out tech made with kids in mind, like kid-friendly landlines, simpler phones and watches, and tools for managing screens at home. We will have information on each device, and you’ll take home a booklet that compares them all in detail. Bring the kids! We’ll have appetizers, and you’re welcome to stay for dinner afterward. When: Thursday, December 3, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Come and go any time. Where: Capital Ale House Midlothian, upstairs in the Loft. 13831 Village Place Dr, Midlothian, VA 23114 Please RSVP so we know how many booklets and appetizers to plan for. It’s free and open to everyone! Thanks to Capital Ale House for hosting us!

Let's Talk: The Anxious Generation The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt has become one of the most talked-about parenting books in the country. A #1. New York Times bestseller, it has sparked an important national conversation about smartphones, social media, and the shift from play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood. Join fellow Fort Mill parents for coffee and conversation as we explore the book, share what stood out to us, and discuss what these ideas mean for our children, our families, and our community.

Hosted by The Balance Project's Central Virginia community. Join parents, teachers and community members from across Virginia for a morning at the General Assembly. We'll meet with our own senators and delegates in small groups to share what we're seeing with screens in our kids' classrooms, what the research says, and what's already working in districts like Henrico. We'll also ask legislators to support legislation that helps Virginia schools use technology intentionally, including a statewide model policy for classroom screen use. This is a nonpartisan, volunteer-led day. We meet with legislators from both parties, and TBP does not endorse or oppose any candidate or party. No experience needed. We'll pair you with a group and send talking points ahead of time. Participants cover their own travel, parking and meals; TBP does not pay or reimburse expenses for this event. School employees are welcome to join in their personal capacity, on their own time, and not as representatives of their school division.

Through a grant from the Suffield Community Fund (Greater Hartford Gives Foundation), awarded to the Suffield Elementary PTO, we will be hosting a speaker from the nonprofit organization 'DopaMind Kids' to speak to families about technology. Information will tie directly to the student assemblies taking place on 1/21 and 1/22 across Spaulding and McAlister. ATTEND FOR A CHANCE TO WIN COOL PRIZES: - 2 Tin Cans will be raffled off - 2 Bloom cards will be raffled off - other fun give aways! * Celebrated science communicator and award-winning children’s book author Bethany Barton brings the science of screentime to life * Learn about how our brains work, how technology affects them, and simple parenting strategies for making balanced choices Need childcare during the informational presentation? Parks & Rec. & Youth Services have offered their support by hosting a drop-off kid event that evening in the middle school cafeteria (registration linked under "event details").

Join us for a free screening of the film "Your Attention Please: Reclaiming Humanity in the Digital Age", followed by a community discussion led by a panel of local experts. A new generation of parents, teens, and reformers are fighting back against Big Tech’s agenda to define the future of human connection. From Kristin, a mother pursuing legislative reform after losing her son, to Trisha, a young programmer building technology to stop cyberbullying, the film reveals how deeply the attention economy is shaping childhood, mental health, and human connection. As lawmakers debate social media reform, Gen Z launches a global Offline Club movement, and a high school dares to go phone-free. What emerges is not a doomsday story, but a hopeful one: proof that the attention crisis is not inevitable and that a cultural shift is already underway. Blending intimate human stories with insights from leading experts in tech reform and digital wellbeing, Your Attention Please asks some of the most urgent questions of our time: Can we reclaim our autonomy? Can technology be redesigned to serve humanity? And what does a healthier relationship with the digital world look like for us and our kids?