Weekly App Review: Coloring Book Swear Words

Redacted screen shot of the Coloring Book Swear Words app.

This week I’m reviewing Coloring Book Swear Words. Research suggests that repeating swear words can increase an individual’s tolerance for both emotional and physical pain (Philipp and Lombardo, 2017; Stephens et al., 2009; Stephens & Umland, 2011; Robertson et al., 2017). For this purpose, the “f word” was demonstrated to be more effective than neutral words or made up swear words (Stephens & Robertson, 2020). To be clear, I am not recommending this app for children or if you find these words offensive.

Intended Use: The app is intended for entertainment and relieving stress.

Target Audience: The app is listed as appropriate for ages 17 and up due to the use of graphic language.

Usability: The interface is primarily visual (apart from the actual swear word which is the central feature of each image). Users can select from palettes of pre-selected colors to fill in areas of the image.

Cost: The app is free to download and includes 15 images to color in with three color palettes. There is an option for in-app purchase of the other images and 12 color palettes for $0.99.

Technical Requirements: Available for iOS.

Pro’s: The app features swear words which may be a way for users to relieve tension.

Con’s:

• Because the app features swear words it is not appropriate to use around children or in areas where the user does not have privacy.

• Some of the areas to color in are not well-defined which leads to bleeding of colors into areas where the user may not want them to go.

• The images are highly detailed which requires zooming in to fill them in on a smaller screen. When I tested it on an iPhone there were some areas that were simply too small and had to be left blank.

• You cannot blend colors, create your own colors, or free draw within the app.

Is it worth it? The app is somewhat entertaining but I think that users might be better served by drawing, sketching, or coloring with physical art materials. There are several coloring books on the market which feature similar designs.

Weekly Challenge: #sketchjanuary

Your challenge this week (the rest of the month) is spend a few minutes each day sketching. Not sure what to draw? Draw people you see on the subway, the contents of your pockets, or a delicious meal you ate. If you choose to post your work on social media consider using the hashtag #sketchjanuary.

Fresh Off the Needles

Maple Beanie pattern from CJ Design Blog.

Before the holidays I was able to finish this double thickness hat. It is made by knitting a long tube in the round, folding it in half, and cinching the top and bottom edges together. It is a great pattern for beginners as it only requires the knit stitch (no purling) and a long-tail cast on. It is not, however, the fastest project as you are essentially knitting twice as many rows as you would need to for a hat of comparable size (that means extra practice though). You can find the pattern I used here. Now to decide what to make next…

Weekly App Review: Finch

Screenshot from the Finch app showing some of the features of the app including goals, mindfulness activities, quizzes, and reflections.

Happy New Year and welcome to 2023! A new year means a new opportunity to reflect and develop better habits. This week I’m reviewing Finch, a habit tracking and wellness app, which might help you with your resolutions.

If you grew up in the 1990’s or early 2000’s you might be familiar with Tamagotchi (a handheld video game which required users to take care of a digital pet). The Finch app uses the idea of the tamagotchi and applies it to self-care activities. Users help their pet gain energy by setting goals, completing mindfulness activities, tracking their emotions, and developing healthy habits. Your pet grows and develops a unique personality by going on adventures and interacting with the user. The developers based Finch on research about the benefits of writing about stressful events (Baikie & Wilhelm, 2005; Koopman et al, 2005; Krpan et al., 2013; Ullrich & Lutgendorf, 2002), putting feelings into words (Lieberman et al, 2007), counting blessings (Froh et al, 2008), and writing to-do lists (Scullin et al, 2018).

Intended Use: The app is intended for health and wellness.

Target Audience: The app is listed as being appropriate for ages four and up. The interface is animated and cute which would be welcomed by children, however, most of the prompts require literacy skills (both reading and writing). The coping strategies are appropriate for all ages but actually geared towards older teens/adults.

Usability: The interface is straightforward to use. The welcome screen features an emotional check-in and motivational quote. Users can select a journey (group of habits and goals to cultivate) such as feeling more adventurous, having a tidy space and tidy mind, staying connected with friends, improving sleeping, getting more physically active, appreciating the moments in life, or even just surviving the day. Each day, the app will give the user a set of goals to complete for the day. Completing goals give your digital pet energy to go out on adventures and in-game currency to purchase outfits and decorations.

Cost: The app is free to use. Users can upgrade to Finch Plus for $5.99 per month or $39.99 per year. There is a seven day free trial for Plus. The Plus version includes access to more outfits, decorations, longer meditation/grounding activities, more control over goals, and access to all trend data (free version stores one week at a time).

Technical Requirements: Available for iOS and Android.

Pro’s:

• The app is simple to use and adds a game-like element to habit tracking and self-care. Users can choose to set reminders/notifications for check-in’s and goals as frequently as they choose. If you cannot finish a goal on a given day, you can set a reminder to do it later. Gamifying self-care can help a person be more accountable (even if its just to an animated bird) and something to look forward to.

• The app provides positive modeling for building empathy and compassion to one’s self by giving users supportive and encouraging language to use with their digital pet.

• The graphics are well-rendered and visually appealing.

• Users also have access to several helpful grounding and mindfulness tools which can be accessed through the first-aid section. This is useful to users who may be using the app to help support existing mental health treatment by reinforcing coping strategies learned in therapy.

• The only advertising in the app is for the subscription option and this is only an occasional reminder (not obtrusive).

Con’s:

• Some users might find the cartoonish style of the app to be childish.

• The app is only available in English.

Is it worth it? I have been using the free version of app for the past several months and have found it be a positive addition to my routine. As I’ve been using the app I appreciate the prompts to reflect on things I’m grateful for, express worries I’m concerned about, and vent frustrations to be helpful in appreciating what is going well and letting go of (or at least not dwelling on) things that are bothering me. I get so busy with work that I find it helpful to have gentle reminders to do small things around the home to keep my space (and mind) tidy so they don’t pile up. It doesn’t hurt to get a little encouragement for doing it too. I think that the app is definitely worth trying. I’m happy with the free version so far (I don’t really need access to all of the outfits for my little finch, Sunshine). The Plus version is worth considering, however, as this is a solid app and it supports the developers to continue maintaining/improving the app and making it free for other users.

Art Challenge: #thedailysketch

Consider making a commitment to sketching every day in the New Year. Why not start this weekend? Remember that a sketch, but definition, is a rough or unfinished drawing. Sketches help you practice your drawing skills, record ideas visually (such as compositions or concepts), and visually problem solve. Developing a sketch book gives you a source of inspiration for more developed or finished works in the future. If you post your work online, consider using #thedailysketch. Use this hashtag to look up work by other artists and support each other.

Credit to @antsgreenetree for developing these art hashtags

Do's and Don'ts of New Year's Resolutions

Weekly App Review: Let's Create

Screen shot showing the boards available on Let's Create.

This week I’m reviewing Let’s Create (also listed as Autism Nonverbal Therapy Game). The developers, MyFirstApp Ltd., have created several educational apps for children including Our Feelings, My Scene, Color Me, and My House which are specifically designed for autistic children to support emotional expression, speech development, creativity, and fine motor development. Throughout this post I will refer to people with autism as autistic. This is in keeping with the preferences of members of the autistic community who view autism as an integral part of their identity and experience of the world (Sinclair, 2013).

Intended Use: The app is intended for making art and may also be a tool to support developing non-verbal communication skills.

Target Audience: The app is listed as being developed for children ages 0 to 5. It may also be appropriate for older users who are autistic or have other developmental delays.

Usability: The interface is primarily graphic. Users are presented with various pre-made shapes which they can drag and drop onto the screen to make artistic images.

Cost: The app is free to download and includes two boards (colored sticks and geometric shapes). There is an option for in-app purchase of the other ten boards for $4.99.

Technical Requirements: Available for iOS.

Sample image created with the Let’s Create app.

Pro’s: The app is simple to use and does not require reading comprehension skills.

Con’s:

• The app is limited in terms of user choices (e.g. the user cannot change the color, orientation, or size of objects). This is likely by design to make the app approachable to younger users.

• If the user hits the back button (arrow on the upper left corner) the app goes back to the home menu and the work the user made is lost. This is fine if you wanted to start over fresh, but also means that pieces could accidentally be deleted which might be frustrating.

Is it worth it? As a process-oriented app, Let’s Create might be a good option. To get the most out of the app it would be best to purchase the full version. I can imagine integrating this app with traditional materials to encourage sensory exploration (e.g. arranging paper shapes into a collage, making images or sculptures with colored popsicle sticks, etc.).

Art Challenge: Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

Using your phone or digital camera, take a picture of each letter of the alphabet. Here are some rules to make it more challenging:

Letters can only be on things in your current space (not online or in another room/location).

Each letter must be from a different object.

You can move objects to reveal lettering or create letters.

From Caffeine for the Creative Mind by Stefan Mamaw & Wendy Lee Oldfield

Weekly App Review: Joy Doodle

Abstract image made with Joy Doodle.

Happy Holidays! This week I’m reviewing Joy Doodle. This is a simple drawing app that allows users to draw with special effects brushes and record videos of the process. It can create the illusion of drawing with light in the dark.

Intended Use: The app is intended for entertainment and making art.

Target Audience: The app is listed as appropriate for ages 4 and up.

Usability: The interface is primarily graphic and does not require literacy skills. The pictures on the buttons relate closely to their intended functions (e.g. a brush to select brushes, an eraser to erase, a backwards arrow for undo, etc.).

Cost: The app is free to download and there is an option for in-app purchase to remove ads for $0.99.

Technical Requirements: Available for iOS and Android.

Video of a flower image created using the Joy Doodle app.

Pro’s:

• The app is simple to use and does not require reading skils.

• The app can automatically record the process of drawing the image from start to finish. This allows users to generate videos as standalone pieces or include them in other projects outside of the app. For art therapists this allows for replay of the artistic process which may help better understand the client’s expression.

• The effects are visually interesting.

Con’s:

• There is a limited degree of control as far as selecting colors and other characteristics of the the brushes.

• The ads are distracting (but can be removed for a fee).

• It is very easy to share completed videos on social media. I list this as a con because it can be too easy for users in an art therapy context to share content made is session.

Is it worth it? The app without ads would be a worthwhile addition to your digital toolbox. It is fun and easy to use. It combines the simplicity of drawing with the creative potential of animation.

Weekly Art Challenge: Reverse Oil Pastel

The challenge this week is a reverse oil pastel drawing. This activity is a DOGO (draw one get one) in that you will create a positive image and be able to pull at least one additional drawing using the same colors. Wondering how this is possible? Check out the steps below and try for yourself:

1. Gather your materials (smaller, light weight papers, 8.5”x11” whole or cut in half, oil pastels, and a pencil).

2. Use the oil pastels to make a drawing on one of the pieces of paper. Abstract images work best for this process. Ensure that you fill the entire page. Feel free to experiment with blending different colors.

3. Place a clean piece of paper over your drawing. The pages need to stay together during this process so if you notice your paper slipping consider taping the paper to the table or using a clipboard.

4. Use a pencil to draw a design on the clean piece of paper. Every place that you draw with pencil will pick up the color from the drawing underneath. Avoid using words as the image will be in reverse (like a mirror).

Do You Want to Build a Snowman: 10 Activities for Your Next Snow Day

The first flurries of the season fell in my neighborhood over the weekend. Winter is on its way! Here are ten suggestions for the next time you get snowed in from work or school.

1. Build a snow sculpture. A classic snow day activity is to build a snowman. You can make something cheery and traditional (think Frosty the Snowman), massive and dramatic, or comical (think Calvin and Hobbes). If there isn’t enough snow to build a tall sculpture, you can build a snow castle (like a sand castle but with snow) or build relief sculptures on trees. Pack some snow on the side of a tree trunk and then mold it into a face. Add rocks, leaves, sticks or berries to make facial features and details.

2. Make a frozen suncatcher. Gather small, colorful objects such as leaves, berries, birdseed, pine needles, or fruit slices and arrange them in plastic lid, paper plate, or shallow container. If you are using paper products be sure to spray with non-stick cooking spray to ensure your suncatcher releases later. Partially fill the container with water to a shallow depth (no more than 0.5” to 1” deep depending on the container). Arrange the objects however you like to make your design. You can add a few drops of food coloring if you want more color. Place a loop of ribbon, wire, or twine into the water towards the top of your design so that you can hang it later. Allow your design to freeze (outdoors or in the freezer).

3. Draw with your Footprints. Walk around your backyard, driveway, or park using your footprints as your brush. Walking in a straight line makes a dashed line. Dragging your feet makes a solid line. Walking over the same area over and over can create a solid space. Use your footprints and creativity to draw a picture or write a message. You can go over your design with a mixture or water and foot coloring to make it stand out.

4. Ice Bowling. Make your own outdoor bowling set with water bottles and a water balloon. The bottles are the pins and the ice water balloon is the ball. Fill the water bottles with water and place them outside or in the freezer to freeze solid. Be sure to leave room at the top to give the water room to expand as it freezes so it doesn’t distort the bottom of the bottle. You can use a few drops of food coloring to make the pins more visible and fun. Fill a round balloon with water and freeze to make a round bowing ice ball. Once everything is frozen solid, set up your bowling lane.

5. Frozen Bubbles. If it is an exceptionally cold day (below 20 degrees Fahrenheit or -7 Celsius) you can blow bubbles that will freeze. Check out these tips for making a bubble solution specially designed for cold weather bubbles.

6. Snow Painting. Fill a large plastic container with fresh snow. Use watercolor paints (or water and food coloring) to paint on the snow. Experiment with mixing different colors.

7. Virtual Museum Tour. When you’re ready to head inside, grab a cup of hot chocolate and visit a world class art museum right from your couch. You can find a list of great options here.

8. Snowflake Decorations. Fold round paper such as coffee filters, tissue paper, or newsprint into wedges and cut out different lines and shapes. Unfold the paper and see your symmetrical designs. You can experiment with your own ideas or check out these patterns. Leave them white or paint with watercolor. Hang your finished flakes in the window.

9. Edible Snowflakes. For this snack you’ll need toothpicks as well as large and small marshmallows. Use a large marshmallow for the center of your snowflake. Gently push the point of a toothpick into the marshmallow so that it sticks out without going all the way threw. Repeat this evenly all the way around the marshmallow. Add the smaller marshmallows to the toothpicks. Add your marshmallow snowflake to the rim of your mug of hot chocolate and enjoy. You can use these same materials to make edible snowmen (check out different examples here).

10. Make Something Cozy. Cold, snowy days are great for knitting, crochet, or weaving. If you’re looking for a new project, check out some ideas here. Smaller projects like a bookmark, coffee cozy, or bracelets can usually be made in a single day.
    
    

Weekly App Review: Worrydolls

Screen shot from the worrydolls app.

This week I’m reviewing Worrydolls. The developer, Peter Wieben, struggled with anxiety and depression growing up and developed this app to help people manage similar struggles. The app is modeled after the Guatemalan tradition of worry dolls (a.k.a. trouble dolls or muñeca quitapena) in which children would tell their worries to tiny, handmade dolls and place them under their pillow at night with the hope that the doll would grant them to wisdom to eliminate their worry by the morning (Common Hope, 2018).

Intended Use: The app is intended for health/wellness.

Target Audience: The app is listed as being appropriate for ages four and up. The app is primarily text-based and would be best suited for users age seven and up.

Usability: The user is presented with an image of a worry doll and given the prompt “I will worry for you. tell me what to worry about.” The user can they write a free response about whatever they are worried about. Users can use multiple dolls to represent each worry and track these over time. If something is no longer a worry, they can mark the worry as finished.

Cost: The app is free.

Technical Requirements: Available for iOS and Android.

Pro’s: The app is simple, has no advertising, and has a charming visual aesthetic. It is also available in English, Dutch, Chinese, and Turkish.

Con’s: This app walks the line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. Cultural appropriation is the act of taking an aspect of a culture other than one’s own, without permission/consent, or out of its cultural context for the purpose of making money, gaining popularity, for personal interest, or aesthetic purposes. Cultural appreciation, on the other hand, includes practices intended to broaden one’s perspective and connect with others cross culturally. The primary differences between the two are consent and context. For example, art therapists who borrow from indigenous traditions, such as making dream catchers with clients or use these images in marketing, without considering or acknowledging the cultural significance of these objects could be considered appropriating native culture. The worrydolls app could be improved by having a section that acknowledges the Guatemalan tradition of the worry doll.

Is it worth it? The app may be worth your time if you struggle with anxiety. It could be a useful adjunct to traditional art making (e.g. making one’s own worry doll).

Weekly Challenge: Automatic Drawing

Demonstration of an automatic drawing technique.

Have you ever been sitting in a meeting at work (or in a lecture at school) and noticed yourself drawing in the margins of your notebook paper? Part of your mind is focused on the meeting, but another part seems to be acting on its own to control your pen. Without realizing it, you were participating in a form of automatic drawing. Simply, automatism is process of creating art without conscious control (Kleiner, 2015). It includes practices such as automatic drawing and writing. These tools were often used by artists in the biomorphic surrealist art movement. Surrealism drew inspiration from the principles of psychoanalysis and sought to unify elements of inner (psychological) and outer reality into single compositions.

Art therapists, psychoanalysts, and art educators have used scribble drawings in their practices to initiate the creative process or better understand their clients (McNamee, 2004). One formal application of automatic drawing is the annotated scribble technique which was detailed by McNamee drawing from the work of Betensky (1995). First, the artist practices scribble movements in the air. Next, they use felt-tipped markers or oil pastels to make continuous scribbles on 14” by 17” paper. When the scribble feels finished, view the image from a distance and look for shapes and images that emerge from the lines on the page. Outline, color, and add details to the shapes found in the drawing to complete it. Finally, reflect on the meaning of the individual elements in the image and their relationship to each other.

Winnicott (1964/1968) developed a technique called the Squiggle Game which he used in his consultations with child psychotherapy clients. Briefly, he would ask the child if they would like to play a game. He would tear a paper in half and quickly draw a squiggle on the page. He would challenge the child to see if it looked like anything to them or they could turn the squiggle into something. Then, he would allow the child to draw a squiggle and he would do the same. Essentially, this was a creative and playful exchange between the therapist and the child which helped develop rapport and provide a window into the child’s psyche.

Whether you call it automatic drawing, scribbling, or doodling, drawing without conscious control can have many benefits. Baweja (2020) summarized the benefits of doodling as:

• Doodling helps the mind to be more focused and attentive

• Doodling helps provide emotional relief

• Doodling develops problem-solving abilities

• Doodling helps improve learning

• Doodling encourages creative self-expression

Your challenge this week is to do your own automatic drawing. Draw from your unconscious, alone or back and forth with a friend, and see what comes up.

Three Exercises for Self-Compassion

Weekly App Review: Stop Motion Studio

Stop animation entitled “Curiosity” using the Stop Motion Studio app for iPhone.

This week I’m reviewing Stop Motion Studio. Stop motion is an animation technique which involves the incremental movement of physical objects photographed in sequence to create the illusion of motion. You may be familiar with stop motion from claymation films including The Nightmare Before Christmas, Wallace and Gromit, and Fantastic Mr. Fox, however, stop motion has been used as an art form for over one hundred years. The first film, The Humpty Dumpty Circus, was created in 1898 by Albert E. Smith and J. Stuart Blackton. Animation (and film in general) relies on the phenomena of persistence of vision. Essentially, our eyes and brain can only process separate images at a rate of approximately 10 to 12 per second and holds onto these images for approximately 1/15th of a second. Therefore, playing many images in rapid succession (16 frames of more) will create the illusion of movement. If you’re doing the math, that means that a feature length film (approximately 90 minutes long) would almost 130,000 frames.

Stop Motion Studio is an app that helps users develop stop motion animation on their phone, tablet, or computer. Users can take photographs manually (e.g. pressing the shutter butter each time) or use the app’s self-timer to take photos at automated intervals, then stitch the photos together as frames of animation. As the video is created, users can playback their work to check their progress.

Intended Use: The app is intended for making art.

Video demonstrating how to making videos with the Stop Motion Studio app.

Target Audience: The app is listed as being appropriate for ages four and up. It is simple enough for young children to use with adult support. Once users understand the basics of stop motion animation (which is a learning curve in and of itself) users who are younger or have limited skills with technology can use the app easily.

Usability: The interface is primarily graphic. Users tap buttons which look like they perform the operations they are supposed to (e.g. a plus sign to start a new project, a camera to begin taking pictures, a reverse arrow to undo, etc.). The app also has a brief tutorial (and several video tutorials) walking new users through the app step by step.

Cost:

• iPhone and iPad- Stop Motion Studio is free, Stop Motion Studio Pro is $5.99

• Mac- Stop Motion Studio is not available, Stop Motion Studio Pro 2 is $9.99

• Android- Stop Motion Studio is free, Stop Motion Studio Pro is $5.99

• Chromebooks- Stop Motion Studio is free, Stop Motion Studio Pro is $5.99

• Windows- Stop Motion Studio is not available, Stop Motion Studio Pro 2 is $9.99

• Amazon Fire- Stop Motion Studio is free, Stop Motion Studio Pro is $5.99

Technical Requirements: Available on the platforms listed above.

Pro’s:

• The app is straightforward and easy to use.

• Users can take photos automatically or by time lapse. They can use automated camera settings or manual modes. This means users can have as much or little control over the shooting process as they like or is developmentally appropriate for them.

• Users can turn on a grid to aid in composing their scene (e.g. lining up objects, using the rule of thirds, balancing composition, etc.).

• The onion skin feature allows users to line up their next photograph with the previous frame. This helps the user plan the movement of their objects frame by frame (rather than having to guess where to move the object next based on playback).

• The masking tool (available in Pro) allows users to remove unwanted objects from their frames such as strings or props.

• The app supports Apple Pencil which allows users to draw and paint on layers of their film.

• The app is available in English, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish.

Con’s:

• Users will need to upgrade to the paid versions of the app to unlock all of the available features.

• If you want to add audio to your stop motion videos you will need to upgrade to Pro or export your video and add the audio in another app/program (e.g. iMovie).

• Making a stop motion film that is longer than a few seconds can take a very long time due to the number of frames required to simulate motion. This technique may not be the most user-friendly for people who struggle with tolerating frustration. That said, this is less of a critique of the app and more of general caveat when considering stop motion as a medium (especially in art therapy).

Is it worth it? The free version is worth your time as it is a straightforward tool for making stop motion animation. There are a lot of features which make it suitable for art therapists and hobbyists alike. The paid versions have robust creative tools including title screens, overlays, filters, the ability to shoot in high-definition and 4K, support for remote camera operation (allowing you to use a DSLR to capture images instead of your phone), support for full manual shooting modes, and support for green screen which can yield professional looking results. A full comparison of the two versions is available here: Learning Curve Tech.

Therapeutically and artistically, stop motion can allow makers to combine a variety of different expressive media into one project. This can include sculpture (e.g. making and arranging figurines, sculptures, cut paper, found objects, etc.), storytelling, music (e.g. selecting a sound track and effects or writing one’s own original score), photography, drawing/painting (e.g. creating backgrounds, adding visual effects), and video editing. I think that this can help bring back some of the tactility and craftsmanship that can sometimes get lost when making artwork digitally.

A strength of stop motion as a medium is that it can be flexible. The work can be done on an individual basis or shared with members of a group. Individually, the client can have total control over the entire creative process. In a group, this creates opportunities for socialization, developing leadership and communication skills, problem solving, and creative collaboration.

“The joy of model animation – its whole point both for the animator and the viewer – has always been its intimacy. It’s all about close focus – fingers, hands, touch. It’s the feel of a puppet in the animator’s hands – a unique blending of sculpture and performance. When an animated character is seen moving on screen, the animator is ever-present, everywhere in the shot, an invisible spirit transforming the puppet into a living being. Magically, the animated performance has much of the immediacy and vitality of a live one.”

— (Harryhausen & Dalton, 2008, p. 9)

Art Challenge: #stilldecember

Arrange a still life and use any drawing or painting media to capture its likeness. You can use almost anything to make a still life, but traditional items to include are food, flowers, bowls, baskets, and vases. Vanitas are a sub-genre of still life which include objects such as skulls, hour glasses, and extinguished candles which are meant to remind the viewer of the brevity and fragility of life. Some contemporary artists also include objects from popular culture like action figures, hygiene products, and shoes. Whatever subject matter you choose, take some time to slow down during this holiday season and make artwork. It can be serious of silly, the choice is yours. If you post your work online use #stilldecember. You can also search this hashtag to get inspiration from other artists.

Do's and Don'ts of Screen Time

InternetMatters.org has resources guides for child screen time by age group.

Parents, teachers, therapists, and other concerned adults face a challenge when considering the issue of screen time for children. The internet, app, educational programs, video chat, and video games present both risks and opportunities for developing minds. How do we find a balance that helps children grow into tech savvy, responsible, media literate adults rather than a crop of couch potatoes? While there is no one-size fits all solution to this problem, this post outlines some do’s and don’ts to guide you in making decisions for your family.

DO seek out quality content for children and teach them how to do the same.

• Before downloading an app (website, video game, program etc.), look over user agreements and reviews. Look out for content that appears suspicious, a scam, or “too good to be true.” Include your child in this process to teach them this skill.

• If you decide to limit or restrict access to particular content, talk with your child about why. For example, “This video game looks like it could be fun but it has a lot of violent content. That goes against our family’s values. Let’s find another game to play instead.”

• Encourage children to reflect on the positive aspects of using technology as a tool for learning and growth. For example, ask them what they learned from a video they just watched on YouTube. You could ask them to show you an image that they made on an art app. Better yet, print it out and display it in your home. If they are using social media, ask about who they are talking to and their relationships.

Be aware of the potential effects of screen time but DON’T catastrophize.

• In a systematic review of the literature, Stiglic and Viner (2019) found that there is moderately strong evidence to suggest that higher screen time is associated with obesity and depressive symptoms. Considering these two factors together, we need to be aware that increased screen time might promote more sedentary behaviors or displace more active ones (e.g. playing outside, going for walks, playing sports, etc.) which could contribute to problems with both physical and mental health. If your children are using technology they should also have plenty of physical activity.

• On the other hand, this same review also noted weak or insufficient evidence to associate screen time with behavior problems, anxiety, hyperactivity and inattention, poorer self-esteem, poorer well-being/psychosocial health, metabolic syndrome, poorer cardiorespiratory fitness, poorer cognitive development, lower educational attainments, poor sleep, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, cardiovascular risk factors, asthma prevalence, or pain. Remember, that our fears are sometimes greater than the reality of the situation. In other words, don’t panic.

DO set limits around screen time that are age and developmentally appropriate. The following are guidelines from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. I would consider these aspirational, in that, no one is perfect and there may be some days when these guidelines are not practical.

• Until 18 months of age limit screen use to video chatting along with an adult (for example, with a parent who is out of town).

• Between 18 and 24 months screen time should be limited to watching educational programming with a caregiver.

• For children 2-5, limit non-educational screen time to about 1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on the weekend days.

• For ages 6 and older, encourage healthy habits and limit activities that include screens.

• Turn off all screens during family meals and outings.

• Learn about and use parental controls.

• Avoid using screens as pacifiers, babysitters, or to stop tantrums.

• Turn off screens and remove them from bedrooms 30-60 minutes before bedtime.

DON’T focus only on the amount of screen time, especially as children grow older.

• Talk with your child about the reason for screen limits such as improving sleep hygiene with a media curfew or limiting what content children consume by themselves versus with an adult for their safety.

• Set clear expectations for your child (such as when should they ask for permission) and model good behavior. This can help reduce arguments.

DO talk about what media your child is consuming.

• Ask your child about what apps, games, etc. they are using during the day. Remember that they may be using technology in school or when they visit the homes of friends or relatives.

• Talk to your child about what they are seeing. Point out good behavior, such as cooperation, friendship, and concern for others. Make connections to meaningful events or places of interest.

Video for tweens & teens about managing their digital footprint online.

DO teach children about appropriate online behavior.

• Talk to your child about their digital footprint and discuss what is okay to post online. Consider how their posts can create a lasting positive or negative impression.

• Teach your child not to send or share anything online that they would not want the entire world to see forever.

• Talk with your child about what types of online behavior are okay and which ones are not. This includes topics like cyberbullying or sexting. InternetMatters.org has resource guides to help parents deal with online safety concerns, including what to do if your child stumbles upon or seeks out adult content, extreme/radical political content, or self-harm content.

Self-Care for the Five Senses

Weekly App Review: Tangle Library

This week I’m reviewing Tangle Library. This app provides step-by-step tutorials for drawing Zentangle patterns on paper. Zentangle is a drawing technique which involves unplanned, non-representational drawing of patterns with the intention of entering a meditative state. It can be used within the context of art therapy to reduce anxiety (Schwarzer et al., ND) and stress (Bennett et al., ND), develop fine motor skills (Hesterman & McAuliffe, 2017), increase positive emotions (Hui & Ma’rof, 2019), and improve psychological well-being (Masika et al, 2020).

Video demonstrating the Zentangle Process

Intended Use: The app is intended for education (teaching users how to draw Zentangle patterns).

Target Audience: The app is listed as being appropriate for ages four and up. Developmentally, drawing from a tutorial is appropriate for users approximately age seven and up.

Usability: The interface is primarily graphic. Users tap a pattern they want to draw and the pattern is broken down into steps they can follow along (current step is displayed in red). There are directional arrows which allow the user to go back and forth through the tutorial at their own pace.

Cost: The app is $4.99 and there are expansion packs (totally tangled, alphatangle, kidz tangle, and tangle of kells) available for $1.99 each.

Technical Requirements: Available for iOS.

Pro’s: The app is simple to use and doesn’t require an internet connection which makes it accessible on the go. The tutorials are easy to follow.

Con’s: The app does not allow users to practice within the app so they will need physical art supplies for their art making. The cost may be difficult to justify when there are other drawing resources available for free.

Is it worth it? The app is a good introduction to Zen Tangle patterns and offers step-by-step instructions. I like having access to the patterns in one place that doesn’t require a wifi connection or having to pause a video. That said, there isn’t anything on here that you cannot find for free elsewhere on the internet for free (for examples, check out Mr. New’s Art Class playlist on Youtube).

Art Challenge: Fluffy Clouds and Silly Characters

Illustration by Chris Judge

I recently came across an article about Chris Judge (also known by his Instagram handle @adailycloud). Judge started sketching whimsical drawings on clouds during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. The minimal lines help to reveal the creatures and characters seemingly hiding in plain sight. His work makes me smile and is certainly worth a follow.

Your challenge for this weekend, if you choose to accept it, is to find the hidden creatures around you. They might be in the clouds, in the trees, in your laundry pile, or anywhere else. Take a photo and then use a drawing app (or pen and paper) to add eyes, ears, noses, mouths, teeth, etc.