Unplugging for Success: How Boys' Latin is Addressing the Digital Impact on Boys

Last night, parents and guardians joined us for a discussion of Jonathan Haidt's latest book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Haidt argues that the shift from play-based to screen-based childhood, driven by social media and powerful handheld devices, has had devastating consequences for young people. 

Headmaster Chris Post spoke about how using Haidt's research as a guide, we developed plans that strengthen our commitment to live our mission and our values and to do what’s best for our boys. Division heads and counselors shared how this is evident in each division.

 
The lower school has introduced a new unstructured outdoor play area where boys use their imaginations to build with materials like tires, crates, and wood pieces. They are being empowered to solve small problems on their own, developing important socialization and problem-solving skills. 

When middle schoolers arrive on campus the first thing they do is check in their phones. They begin the day with unstructured activities in the gym or library, as research shows that starting the academic day later improves academic performance and alertness in adolescents.  The middle school is also using a program from The Social Institute to help boys navigate their social world, both online and offline. 

The upper school has embraced an "away for the day" phone policy, with boys turning in their phones each morning and retrieving them at the end of the academic day. While the noise level has increased, it's because boys are connecting and chatting more between classes. Head of upper school, Amy Wesloski reports that during free periods boys can often be found actively engaged in activities from building Legos to a group of juniors gathered round a printed newspaper. 

We believe that results speak for themselves. Boys are more engaged in their classes across divisions, finding creative ways to spend recess and free periods and are deepening connections with peers and faculty alike.  

Following the speakers, parents broke into small groups by division to discuss the impact of overprotecting children in the real world while under-protecting them online, the role of screens and technology in family life, the value of unstructured play and the differences between growing up today versus in the past. Each group created a poster using a few words or images to reflect their insights—click here to view.

We are excited about the positive impact these changes are having on our boys and are committed to helping "rewire" their brains so they are more present in the moment, more connected, more creative and more prepared to navigate the world.