About

Who We Are

We are local parents who are concerned about the creep of screen time into so many aspects of our children's (and our own) lives. We are banding together to give our kids the IRL fun, independence, and connection they need to flourish in childhood and beyond.

What We Believe

"The moral test of any society is how well it protects its children."—Vivek Murthy, former US Surgeon General

Children need lots of real world play and face-to-face connection with people to learn, grow, and thrive. But screen time is increasingly displacing these things. As a result, we now have a generation of youth suffering from anxiety, isolation, poor sleep, and short attention spans. We believe there’s a better way—one where real-life connection is prioritized over screens and our children’s health and well being are prioritized over the profit of consumer tech companies. 

We believe:

• Technology can be an incredible tool when used with intention, but the addictive design of smartphones, social media, and other digital devices and apps too often gets in the way.

• Delaying or foregoing smartphones and social media for kids and teens is healthy because their developing brains are no match for powerful algorithms engineered to keep them hooked.

• It's our duty to educate our kids on how to spot misinformation, recognize algorithmic influence, and navigate online spaces with awareness and caution, AND we can do this without giving them devices prematurely.

• Children need more free play, independence, and responsibility in the real world.

• Schools should be phone-free spaces.

• The use of technology in classrooms should be intentional and evidence-based. 

• Parents should strive to model healthy digital habits. 

Why Join us?

Resisting big tech's takeover of childhood can feel like a lonely, uphill battle sometimes—but it becomes much easier when you have a local community walking this path alongside you. This is an inclusive group whose members are striving for progress, not perfection. Our goals are to build a community of like-minded parents; share resources to help families lead more screen-conscious lifestyles; and take collective action to change the norms around kids and screens in our homes and schools. We hope you'll join us!

CONTACT US

info@reconnectMKE.org

We are not on social media.* Please connect with us in person at our events!

*Social media companies, especially Meta (owner of Facebook & Instagram), monetize our attention and exploit our human vulnerabilities to keep us hooked. Kids and teens suffer the most harm under this business model. We believe any benefits of social media are not worth the cost, which is why we have chosen not to contribute to the social media pipeline.