Jul 6, 2019

New job: "Screen consultants" help harried parents

Mike Allen

Photo: Bill Hinton/Getty Images

A "screen-free parenting coach" economy has sprung up around the U.S. as parents try to figure out how to wrangle smartphones out of their kids' hands, reports the New York Times.

Why it matters: Concern over screen time and smartphone use is particularly "rampant" among well-off parents, per the Times. It remains unknown "what screens will make of society, good or bad."

Yes, but: Dr. Eric Reischer, a psychologist, says the new screen consultant economy and screen addiction are both "part of the mind-set that gets us stuck on our phones in the first place — the optimization efficiency mind-set. We want answers served up to us."

How it works: Screen consultants will meet with families at homes, schools, churches and synagogues, per the Times. They focus on getting kids active. Some parents are also taking the No-Phone Pledge — promising not to give their children smartphones until they are in the 8th grade, found the NYT.

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Coronavirus dashboard

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  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 9 p.m. ET: 721,584 — Total deaths: 33,958 — Total recoveries: 149,122.
  2. U.S.: Leads the world in cases. Total confirmed cases as of 9 p.m. ET: 142,106 — Total deaths: 2,479 — Total recoveries: 2,686.
  3. Federal government latest: President Trump says his administration will extend its "15 Days to Slow the Spread" guidelines until April 30.
  4. Public health updates: Fauci says 100,000 to 200,000 Americans could die from virus.
  5. State updates: Louisiana governor says state is on track to exceed ventilator capacity by end of this week — Cuomo says Trump's mandatory quarantine comments "panicked" some people into fleeing New York
  6. World updates: Italy on Sunday reports 756 new deaths, bringing its total 10,779. Spain reports almost 840 dead, another new daily record that bring its total to over 6,500.
  7. What should I do? Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk
  8. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

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