SHINE Skills for Life Center

The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee recently held a major public hearing on children and screen time.

Child psychologists, pediatricians, and educators shared clear, evidence-based concerns about how excessive screen time and the rapid expansion of digital technology in childhood and schools are affecting:
- children’s mental health and overall well-being
- attention and self-regulation
- social development and relationships
- learning outcomes and deeper thinking skills

This hearing is especially important bringing real data and expert testimony directly from doctors, researchers, and educators.

The conversation goes beyond “how much screen time is too much.”

This is about quality of life and protecting childhood itself... including how constant digital stimulation can interfere with cognitive development, focus, creativity, and meaningful learning.

Many schools are being asked to adopt rapidly expanding digital tools and content faster than systems can responsibly evaluate, filter, and protect children from harmful or developmentally inappropriate material.

Technology is not the enemy. It opens an important dialogue about how we can learn to utilize technology safely, thoughtfully, and in developmentally appropriate ways instead of being used by it.

If you are a parent, caregiver, or educator the stakes are high on these real choices that shape our children’s development and their childhood.

Lawmakers Hold Hearing on the Impact of Screen Time on Kids The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee heard testimony from experts on the impact of screen time on children and young adults. The witnesses said kids spend an average of five to eight hours a day on screens, warning it had fueled a mental health, learning, and creativity crisis....

This is a perfect activity for all ages, but takes some set up from the grown ups. You can design treasure hunt that winds through your house and yard with clues tailored to different reading levels. Create picture clues for non-readers, simple riddles for early readers, and more complex puzzles for older kids and adults. Got favorite snacks? Hide small treasures at various checkpoints leading to a final family prize. Older children can help create clues for younger siblings, while adults can provide hints when needed. Include physical challenges like “hop to the next clue” or “find something red” to keep everyone engaged. Have so much fun!

Personal growth is beautiful. This Tuesday, prepare you taco anticipating learning, stretching and becoming the best version of yourself. The energizing feeling of expanding beyond your previous limits will enhance every opportunity and activity.🌞

Love isn’t a finite resource—the more you give, the more you have, and it all begins with how you treat yourself. Self-love isn’t selfish; it’s the foundation from which all other love flows. When you speak to yourself with kindness, when you honor your boundaries, when you forgive your mistakes, you’re modeling what love looks like. This inner compassion naturally extends outward, creating ripples of understanding and acceptance in your relationships. This Monday, notice how differently you show up in the world when you’re not battling yourself internally. Love isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence, about seeing yourself and others with gentle eyes. Practice loving yourself through your struggles, celebrating others through theirs. Remember that everyone you meet is fighting battles you know nothing about, carrying dreams that matter deeply to them. When we lead with love, we create space for authentic connection and mutual growth. ❤️

This Tuesday, let’s remember our kindness towards all others. The warm fulfillment that comes from contributing to others’ wellbeing will fill your heart. Let’s care for others today (and yourself) everyone needs a hug sometimes❤️

There’s something profoundly healing about having your hands in the soil, watching seeds transform into life. It’s not too late too! Gardening teaches us patience in the most beautiful way: you can’t rush growth, you can’t force a flower to bloom. Each day in the garden is a lesson in trust, in tending without controlling, in finding joy in small progress. Whether you’re nurturing tomatoes on a windowsill or cultivating a backyard garden sanctuary, you’re participating in the practice of partnership with nature. When your mind is spinning with worry, remember that gardens grow best with consistent care, not anxious hovering. Let your plants teach you how to be present, how to grow slowly, how to bloom in your own time.

Age is just a number when it comes to pursuing your dreams and making an impact. Whether you’re 8 or 80, your ideas matter, your perspective is valuable, and your potential is limitless. Kids are starting nonprofits, creating apps, and solving problems adults overlooked. Your “big thing” doesn’t have to change the world; it just has to matter to you. Maybe it’s learning a new language, starting a business, writing a book, or simply being the person who brightens someone’s day. The world needs what you have to offer, regardless of the year you were born. Stop waiting for the “right time” or thinking you’re “too young” or “too old.” Your time is now, and your dreams are valid at every stage of life.

Transform your backyard into a wilderness escape! Set up tents or build blanket forts, create a safe fire pit area for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs (or pretend inside), and organize storytelling sessions with flashlights. Older kids can help younger ones with tent setup or reading camping stories while parents prepare camping snacks. End the night with stargazing and identifying constellations with the ones you love. This activity works for toddlers through teens, with each age group taking on age-appropriate responsibilities like gathering sticks, arranging sleeping bags, or leading ghost story sessions! Have fun :)

Take a moment today to sit with this powerful question: What would you do if you weren’t afraid of failing? Notice what immediately comes to mind: that business idea you’ve been sketching in notebooks, the conversation you’ve been avoiding, the creative project gathering dust in your mind, or the career change that makes your heart race with both excitement and terror. Fear of failure often masquerades as practicality, whispering that we should be “realistic” and stay safe. But what if failure isn’t the opposite of success: what if it’s simply information, a teacher, a stepping stone toward something better? The dreams that scare you most are often the ones worth pursuing because they represent growth, authenticity, and the person you’re becoming. Start small if you need to: take one tiny step toward that intimidating goal, have one honest conversation, sign up for one class. Remember that not trying is also a choice, and regret weighs heavier than temporary failure ever could. Your dreams are calling you for a reason. What if the only real failure is never finding out what you’re truly capable of achieving?