38 MAY 2018 The 2010s will unquestionably be known as the smartphone decade, the moment in history where the internet dropped into our pocket and could never be turned off. Today’s kids don’t remember a world without the internet or social media. They, and their parents, are flying blind regarding the long-term consequences of having access to the entire world at such a young age. Katey McPherson is a former teacher and administrator and who now works for a mental health therapist and has spent years studying how boys and girls learn and interact with the ever-changing world of technology. She has spoken at many different schools, including Christ Lutheran School, right across the street from the Arcadia News office. We spoke to her about what is happening to children in the social media decade and what parents can do to help their kids navigate it. As kids today use technology in a completely unprecedented way, what are some of the results you are seeing? Children in this decade are being given complete and unfiltered access to a medium they aren’t ready for. The data is overwhelming that these are undeveloped brains that can’t handle the access that we pay for and give to them. They are truly struggling with this new world. Self-harming depression rates are off the charts, with suicide as the number one cause of death in Arizona for kids 10 to 14 and the number two for people 15-34. There’s a host of things that are going on. What this technology does to an underdeveloped brain is tell you that you’re not good enough. If I’m already depressed, or having anxiety and clinical depression, what is scrolling through Instagram going to do? I scroll and scroll, and all I see are parties that I’m not invited to, vacations I’m not going on, bodies that don’t look like mine. What are the negatives that come with giving children unfiltered access to the internet at increasingly younger ages? No school and few households are really training these kids on an ongoing and pervasive basis. We just hand over these devices and say to our kids, I trust you with the entire World Wide Web. When they do something bad, we take it away. When we’re tired after work, we give it back. It is beyond a problem with technology, it’s a disconnect between humans and developing relational skills. Teens have a hard time with anxiety and depression as it is. Social media only exacerbates that. The number one goal of kids from 9 to 18 is how do I stay current and relevant in my social group. And the way to do that today is social media. And with phones now in their pocket at all times, they can’t turn it off. They don’t want to miss out on anything, meaning they have to be plugged in as often as possible. Their poor brains are always on. Statistically, these kids are plugged into their phone 6 to 12 hours a day. One of the biggest problems that has resulted from this is a lack of sleep for kids today. Parents are allowing these devices in the bedroom, and a child won’t ignore the phone if they have access to it. Many kids will fall asleep with it in their hands or under their pillow. Most kids are getting 4 to 6 hours of sleep a night, when biologically they need 8 to 12 during puberty. That’s why the number one strategy I tell parents is no devices are allowed in the bedroom when kids are supposed to be sleeping. How should a parent approach how and when to give their children access to a smartphone and social media accounts? You have to figure out what the endgame is for the phone. Parentally, do you feel pressure to let your kids be like their friends? Is it a safety issue, where you want them to have the phone when they aren’t with you? What is the purpose of the phone? If the point is to not have your child be ostracized, one idea is to give them a smart phone without the internet or apps enabled. Then they still look cool to their friends, and they’re able to call and text like everyone else. However, if you’re giving your kid access to Snapchat at age 10, you better hold on tight. Before introducing your child to social media, it is important to think about how your child is wired. Can they be a decent human being with text messaging? That’s probably good to know before graduating to social media access. If you want to let them on social media, my recommendation is Twitter or Instagram. Snapchat is by far the toughest one to monitor. Say a parent wants to make some changes. What is a helpful plan of action? Number one, do research. Get on commonsensemedia.org and learn about apps in order to be in the know. This site is a wonderful resource, with a ton of information on technology and social media for parents in regards to their kids. Two, take the phone away at night and put it in a charging station in your room. Always your room. I’ve had parents tell me about kids who crawled into the kitchen when the phone was placed there. Third, if you’re going to give your child a phone with the ability to text or use social media, be up front about reasonable boundaries. This is more effective than arbitrarily yanking it away whenever. Maybe the child gets it from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and unlimited access on Saturdays. You can come up with your own, but without a plan you set yourself up for disaster by pitting parent against child. I think it is important for parents to work together with their kids on this. Technology is only going to advance, we’re always going to be digital families. So, talk with the kids about it. Ask them how we will use it as a family, and what some reasonable expectations should be. That way it isn’t a power struggle, where it’s us against them. Tell your kids that you want to do this together with them. Trials and tribulations of the social media generation Katey McPherson Suicide is the number one cause of death in Arizona for kids 10 to 14. Escape the Ordinary Escape the Ordinary Scottsdale Waterfront // 480.751.2200 OliveIvyRM OliveAndIvyRestaurant.com

39 MAY 2018 By Nick Smith Cinco de Mayo will have many around the area searching for tacos. Fortunately, Arcadia isn’t light on this culinary creation, as dozens of spots around the area can deliver the goods that people will be looking for around the 5 th . One of these places is CRUjiente Tacos, located right in the neighborhood, at the northwest corner of 40 th and Camelback Road. Arcadians will be familiar with the location, a shopping complex that includes the Water Connection, CVS and Sushiholic. The first thing a guest will notice when opening the door to CRUjiente is the surprising amount of space. Although the spot looks narrow from the front, it is a long way to the back of the restaurant, filled with high tops, booths, and a bar on the left side. The ambience is a solid blend of causal and fancy, but the most memorable part is unquestionably the food. Chef Rich Hinojosa is from San Antonio, and the taste of Texas is evident in the offerings, with the tacos being separated into two types; crunchy and street. The crunchy ones are always in corn shells, with beef, pork or lamb as the choices for meat. Cabbage is the one ingredient that’s a part of all three, adding both an additional crunch and a coolness. The pork taco has slight hint of citrus to it, along with the spice of green chile, pepper jack and pico verde. The street tacos are presented on soft, flat shells, with the ingredients showcased right on top. It may seem like an odd thing to notice, but one major plus is that the blue corn soft shell tacos don’t fall apart. It is an easy process to fold the sides and take a bite, and it’s nice to not have to worry about the tortilla splitting and all the good stuff tumbling out. The tacos are on the smaller side, so the ideal number for a meal would probably be around three a person. The fresh fish taco is filled with moist pan-seared whitefish, along with citrus slaw and ancho tartar. Also in the seafood category is the seared shrimp taco, with Thai coconut green curry. They’ve also got what appears to be pickled pepper strips, adding a vinegar component to the dish. If you’d rather go with land meat, some of the favorites include 36-hour beef short rib, pork belly, and green chile chicken. There is also a taco of the week, which ends up being a unique creation from Chef Hinojosa. Amazingly, Hinojosa has never repeated a taco of the week since CRUjiente opened in late 2016. There are also appetizers and desserts on the menu. The absolute go-to for the starters is the Posole. A traditional stew from Mexico, the CRUjiente version is served hot and spicy, with hominy, onion, jalapeño and cilantro topping the dish. The pork is finely shredded throughout, not chunky, meaning you can easily get some in every bite. A wide selection of drinks are also available. CRUjiente clearly has a relationship with WhistlePig, as the well-known whiskey is featured in numerous drink choices, including a flight of different vintages. If you have to choose one, it’s hard to go wrong with the Manhattan, a strong but easily drinkable version of the famous cocktail. The dishes at CRUjiente make it a tempting choice to visit on the 5 th of any month. CRU JIENTE TACOS 3961 E. Camelback Road, 85018 crutacos.com PLACES WE LIKE Seared Hawaiian Ahi Tostada Spanish Chorizo VIG SIGNATURE BLOODY MARYS TUESDAY FAMILY DEAL NIGHT: Large 2 Item Deep Dish or Extra Large Thin Crust Pizza 1 Appetizer, Mozzarella Sticks, Family Size Salad, & 4 Soft Drinks for the amazing price of $ 30 Come try our new DEEPEST DISH PIZZA YET! More Dough, More Cheese, More Ingredients. Taste Why the City of Chicago has given this new Deep Dish Pizza Rave Reviews! AWARD-WINNING DEEP DISH AND THIN CRUST PIZZA Order online at ginoseast.com or call 602-441-0704. WEDNESDAY NIGHTS ARE 1/2 OFF ALL BOTTLES OF WINE NIGHT CALL TODAY! 602-441-0704 GINOSEAST .COM 3626 E. INDIAN SCHOOL RD. | PHOENIX #WEROLLDEEP @GINOSEASTRAZ $10.00 OFF When you spend $40 or more. Must present coupon to receive discount. Offer expires 5/31/18. Cannot be used for Tuesday night family deal. Delivery available through Amazon Restaurants, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Postmates or Doordash.