We all know that smartphones can be a powerful tool for social connection and information. What children need to understand is the psychological manipulation behind social media and gaming - the psychology and power of persuasive design. With this knowledge young people can use technology to enhance their lives, instead of letting it shape and run their lives.

This workshop is for students ages 10-14 years old. In this three-part workshop, participants will:

• explore how media technology shapes their understanding of friendship, happiness, truth, and success
• discover the psychology behind social media and video games
• become scientists of their own brains
• recognize the vulnerabilities we all face when tech companies know more about our brains than we do
• examine the impact of screens on their quality of communication
• learn the complexities of evaluating sources of information online and the importance of checking sources before sharing
• develop strategies to align their use of technology with the lives they want to live
• foster a compassionate relationship with their own self
• develop connections with a cohort of peers facing the same questions

Alongside other students, your child will explore the impact of media technology on their world, relationships, and selves. All participants will be encouraged to continue the conversation with their parents, giving parents an opening to conversations that are otherwise difficult to initiate. Following each session, parents will receive an e-mail with a recap of topics covered as well as discussion topics to continue these conversations as a family.

Benefits of participation:

• Your child will gain the skills and perspectives to hone a strong relationship with themself 
• Your child will strengthen communication and social-emotional skills
• Your child will increase metacognitive skills​
• Your child will learn from intentional instructors, not from unknown social media figures, online searches, or pornographic content
• Your child will enjoy an extra-curricular activity that introduces them to students and new friends
• Parents will gain the openings and conversation starters to have important conversations with their children ​

​Dates and time of the workshop:

• Sunday nights, August 6, 13, and 20 at 6:00 p.m. EST

To register your child for the group:

STEP 1: Complete this brief form

Share information about how we can best support your child.

Register

STEP 2: Submit secure payment
​by check or credit card 

After submitting the brief registration form, you'll receive an email with payment details.

The total cost is $250. 
*Register by July 30 for a 20% discount

STEP 3: Receive the zoom link for your child 

Once you are fully registered, you'll receive the meeting invitation with a zoom link for your child to access for the series.

Your child will be ready to begin!

Meet the Facilitator

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Chelsea Maxwell, Ed.M.
Learning Designer, Educator

Chelsea Maxwell is an educator, learning designer, and lecturer. After receiving her BA from Vassar college, Chelsea specialized in curriculum development as well as technology and innovation at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Having previously worked in advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, she is now focused on educating students about healthy relationships. Bringing years of experience as a director of mentoring for children and teens, Chelsea creates interactive and dynamic learning experiences for students of all ages.
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Chelsea is a mom of a toddler and travels internationally delivering sex education and digital health curricula in schools. She lives in Upstate New York.

Register

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my child can’t make these time slots? Will this be offered again in the future?

• Yes! If you are interested in enrolling your child in the future, please email us at info@maxwelled.com

Who are the other children in my child’s group?

• Your child’s peers in the group will be similarly aged children. We will be building cohort trust through icebreakers and getting-to-know-one-another activities. It is not unusual for students to make new friends in these small group settings.

Can siblings participate together?

• Yes, they are welcome to participate in the same cohort.

My child needs special assistance. How can you help?

• We invite you to share as much information with us by email in advance of the sessions. We are happy to work to accommodate your children’s needs.

Can my child participate even if they need to miss one of the sessions?

• We encourage each participant to be available for all three sessions for each topic. If your child cannot join for one of the sessions, we will send reflection questions and exercises to help cover some of the topics.

Will these sessions be recorded?

• So students feel comfortable sharing, these sessions will not be recorded. We do encourage you to speak about your child’s experience with them. -