Holmdel panel urges limits on passive screen use, highlights outdoor play and new digital-citizenship elective

A community panel convened by the Balance Project in Holmdel on balancing life and technology emphasized that not all screen time is equal and urged families and schools to prioritize purposeful, supervised use over passive scrolling.

Panelists—including pediatric occupational therapist Emily McHugh, William R. Satz Middle School principal Shan Shantel Seminelli, Holmdel occupational therapist Katie McEvoy and crisis clinician Samantha Saffioti—told parents and students on the panel that harms show up when device use interferes with daily functioning, sleep and face-to-face relationships. "Boredom is, you can think of it as like a gateway to creativity," McHugh said, arguing that unstructured, nature-based play builds cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills.

Saffioti, a licensed clinical social worker who leads crisis clinicians at Bayshore Medical Center, described clinical encounters where online content and bullying aggravated suicidal ideation and self-harm among young people: "we do see that a lot um in the hospital unfortunately," she said, and cautioned that the quality of what children absorb online can be more consequential than the raw number of hours.

Educators on the panel described classroom and developmental impacts. Principal Shan Shantel Seminelli said students increasingly struggle to sustain attention and to engage in face-to-face interactions; the district has responded by creating a new elective for incoming seventh graders called "digital citizenship and technology in society," intended to teach responsible, critical and aware use of technology before high school transition.

Katie McEvoy summarized research connecting early, heavy screen exposure with higher risk of fine-motor delays in very young children, noting studies show the greatest risk for passive viewing and prolonged handheld-device use among toddlers.

Students on the panel described social pressure to be constantly available and divided views about boundaries: some said blocked sites and limits can feel restrictive, while many acknowledged they would welcome structured limits to reduce distraction and anxiety.

Panelists suggested practical steps families can use immediately: tag short outdoor "green-space" time to existing routines (for example, a 10-minute after-dinner walk or eating breakfast outside), set no-phone rules for family meals, and cultivate screen-free hobbies that provide alternatives when device use ends.

The session concluded with thanks from community leads and a recording promise. Organizers said they will share the recorded discussion with the wider community.