HITN to Host Spanish-Language Townhall on Preschoolers’ Screen Time
Key Takeaways
- •The town hall will air on HITN TV and be available free through HITN GO for on-demand viewing.
- •Pediatric and developmental experts will discuss preschoolers’ digital experiences, including content, viewing habits, co-viewing, and parental involvement.
- •The program follows American Academy of Pediatrics guidance emphasizing the quality and context of children’s digital media use.
- •HITN aims to provide Latino families with evidence-based, guilt-free guidance for developing healthier relationships with technology.
- •HITN described the event as the first in a series of initiatives focused on children and screen time.
HITN Media’s preschool streaming platform Edye and wellness platform Vida y Salud will present the Spanish-language townhall Los niños y el tiempo en pantalla (Children and Screen Time) on Sunday, September 13, at 8:00 p.m. EDT/PDT on HITN TV. The program will also be available free on HITN GO for on-demand viewing.
Journalist Nathalia Ortiz will host the townhall, which will feature developmental and behavioral pediatrician Dr. Nidsy Mejía Roque and pediatric neuropsychologist Dr. Fernanda Lucchese-Lobato. The program will also include insights from Dr. Thresia Gambon of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Matías Dodel, PhD, a professor at the Catholic University of Uruguay, and Lina Acosta Sandaal, a development expert and founder of Stop Parenting Alone. Surveys conducted by parenting blogger Mariela Irala will also be presented.
The discussion will examine the relationship between preschoolers and electronic devices, an issue facing many modern parents. Instead of focusing only on screen-time limits, the townhall will consider whether content matters, how viewing habits and co-viewing influence children’s experiences, which activities may be displaced, and when adults should intervene.
The discussion is guided by the AAP’s digital media guidelines, which encourage parents and caregivers to consider the quality and context of children’s digital experiences.
Guillermo Sierra, EVP and Head at HITN Media, said, “This issue is urgent and highly relevant to our Latino audiences: the trends we see in the United States often set the tone globally, and parents need to be empowered with clear, evidence-based information that is guilt free.”
Sierra added that Vida y Salud and Edye follow AAP recommendations and work with parents to promote a healthy relationship with technology “without turning screens into a constant source of conflict.”
The townhall is intended to help families make informed decisions. Its message is that parents do not need to be perfect, but should remain present, informed, and focused on building a healthier relationship with technology. HITN said the program is the first of many initiatives it will roll out on the topic.
“We want to lead the movement, initiate a critically important conversation, and empower parents to manage this challenge for the benefit of their children,” Sierra added.
Through VidaySalud.com and as a programming block on HITN TV, Vida y Salud offers articles, videos, and medical resources. Edye is a Spanish-language preschool content platform that provides practical resources and evidence-based guidance. More information is available at HITN.org.
Source: Citybuzz
