2025 Heads of House 

The impact of screen time, online relationships, and social media on young people is a growing concern for educators and parents alike. For us, interactions and ‘friendship fall out’ from social media between the hours of 3pm and 8am (outside school hours). These are the biggest contributors to Head of House time with students. We also see firsthand the implications of disrupted sleep-in student anxiety levels and their classroom and assessment engagement. Research has shown that extended screen exposure can reduce empathy levels and hinder social development in children and teenagers (Turkle, 2015). However, simple strategies can help counteract these effects. 

One study observed students who attended a five-day camp without screens, and the results were staggering—their empathy levels measurably increased and remained higher than those of their peers who stayed behind with continued screen access (Uhls et al., 2014). Why? Because they talked to one another. Engaging in face-to-face communication helps young people develop essential social skills, emotional intelligence, and stronger connections with their peers.

Last week, our Year 7 students embarked on a three-day camp at Noosa Northshore, designed to foster connections, encourage personal growth, and provide new opportunities. The camp was a resounding success, as students stepped outside their comfort zones, engaged in team-building activities, and formed new friendships. Through a range of outdoor challenges and group experiences, they learned resilience, collaboration, and the importance of supporting one another. The time away from screens allowed them to focus on meaningful conversations, self-reflection, and developing stronger bonds with their peers. This experience reinforced the value of face-to-face interactions and outdoor adventures in building empathy, confidence, and emotional intelligence.

As parents, you don’t need a five-day camp to create the same impact. Simple weekend activities—like a picnic, a backyard adventure, a hike through Mt Coot-tha, a drive out of Brisbane, or a visit to Redcliffe or Bribie Island—can offer our children the space to disconnect from screens and reconnect with family, friends, and nature. Whether it's building a sandcastle, climbing a tree, or sharing a story around a campfire, these moments foster meaningful conversations and deeper relationships.

Spending time outdoors has additional benefits, including reduced stress, improved mood, and enhanced creativity (Louv, 2008). Exposure to natural environments encourages curiosity, problem-solving skills, and physical activity, all of which contribute to overall wellbeing. By creating opportunities for children to engage in unstructured play and real-life social interactions, we equip them with the skills they need to navigate relationships and challenges with confidence.

Let’s make a conscious effort to balance screen time with real-life experiences. Encourage your children to step away from their devices, step outside, and step into conversations that matter. By prioritizing outdoor and family activities, we can nurture more compassionate, engaged, and emotionally intelligent young people.

Together, we can create more opportunities for real-life connection.

For further information on the impact of screen time and social media, the latest eSafety Commissioner statistics revealed alarming stats surrounding cyberbullying -  Safer Internet Day calls for kindness as cyberbullying reports surge over 450% in five years | eSafety Commissioner. 

References: Louv, R. (2008). Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.  Algonquin Books.Turkle, S. (2015). Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age. Penguin Press.Uhls, Y. T., Michikyan, M., Morris, J., Garcia, D., Small, G. W., Zgourou, E., & Greenfield, P. M. (2014). Five days at outdoor education camp without screens improves preteen skills with nonverbal emotion cues. Computers in Human Behavior, 39, 387-392.