Workshops & Support Groups
Screenagers
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
5:00-6:30pm
Hall Memorial Library (Upstairs Meeting Room)
Piggybacking off of the "Social Media and Responsible Technology for Parents" presentation from Scott Driscoll of Internet Safety Concepts at Windermere on 9/30, Ellington Youth Services is happy to host a FREE showing of Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition.
Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition, directed by physician-filmmaker Delaney Ruston, takes a deeply personal and insightful look into how technology shapes the lives of elementary-aged children. Through the lens of her own family and those of others, Ruston highlights the growing prevalence of smartwatches, video games, social media, and other digital pressures infiltrating young lives.
The documentary weaves personal narratives with expert insights, drawing from psychologists, authors, and brain scientists. It delves into challenges around excessive screen time, academic distractions, internet addiction, and early exposure to inappropriate content. Importantly, the film isn't just diagnostic—it offers evidence-based strategies to help families and educators foster balance, resilience, and healthier digital habits in kids.
Audience: Specifically made for kids in grades K–5 and their families.
Why: This version is developmentally appropriate for younger children. It discusses:
- Healthy screen habits
- Screen time limits
- Smartwatches, gaming, and social pressure
- Managing emotions when screens are taken away
- It uses kid-friendly language, real-life family examples, and avoids overly mature topics.
Light refreshments will be served.
Our workshops provide all our community members with an opportunity to learn. Sharing useful information on vulnerable topics initiates conversation.
Conversations make a difference. We offer a vast amount of workshops covering topics like: NARCAN, QPR, Mental Health First Aid, Vaping 101, and Substance Abuse Information.
EYS hopes that adults maintain the same amount of peer support that we know to be essential for our children. This is why we have created parent support groups that encourage open communication among caregivers.
We always love to hear feedback or any support group ideas that would be of interest in the community!
Please reach out to our Prevention Coordinator, Marque Mercure — mmercure@ellington-ct.gov with any ideas on how we can best support Ellington parents.