The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

Early childhood leaders are navigating growing concerns about children’s anxiety, screen exposure, and shifting family expectations. This two-part book group creates space for reflection, dialogue, and leadership strategies grounded in the developmental importance of play and human connection.

Together, we will focus on three core goals:

• Strengthening staff connection by helping leaders understand the generational experiences of today’s early childhood workforce—many of whom grew up in a highly digital, screen-based world. We will explore how constant connectivity can shape adult stress, attention, and anxiety, and how leaders can respond with compassion and intentional strategies that support regulation, focus, and the ability to be fully present and connected with others in real-world settings.

• Deepening parent connections by grounding leaders in the why behind early childhood development, emotional regulation, and learning approaches—empowering them with the knowledge, language, and resources needed to help families understand the importance of building relationships with their children to support their learning in daily interactions. 

• Reclaiming play-based childhoods by strengthening leaders’ understanding of the benefits of play-based learning and its role in brain development, social-emotional growth, and resilience. Leaders will build capacity to clearly explain how play supports children’s ability to connect, communicate, and problem-solve with others—skills that cannot be replicated through screen-based experiences.

Date: March 11 & March 25
⏰ 12:30–2:00 PM

* Space is limited. Register early!  Books will be mailed to those who can commit to both sessions. If you have access to an audiobook, this is a great way to complete the book in a reasonable time.