HHS releases ‘The Magic Tablet’ children’s book at event
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services convened the Live Real Life Symposium on Tuesday at the department’s Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C. A press release from HHS said the event brought together “leaders from technology, medicine, research, education, government, and advocacy groups to examine the harms of screen use in children and discuss actionable approaches to supporting healthier childhood development.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement that “Our children get one childhood, and we cannot allow screens to replace the real-world experiences they need to grow and thrive.” He said the Office of the Surgeon General’s “Live Real Life initiative” was giving families “practical tools to put technology in its proper place and get children back to playing, exploring, connecting and experiencing the world around them.”
The symposium also introduced The Magic Tablet, a children’s book released by HHS to communicate the initiative’s principles in a children’s book format. HHS said the event was meant to build on the Surgeon General’s Warning on the Harms of Screen Use, issued earlier this year, which outlines how factors such as age, content, design, purpose and duration influence when screen engagement may be beneficial and when it is harmful.
Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, director of national health communications for the Office of the Surgeon General and principal deputy assistant secretary for health, said “The well-being of children is not just important today, but must be an ongoing priority for the public health communities.” She added that “Technology has a place in our lives, but it should never come at the expense of our children’s health.”