Page 49 - Family Resource Guide Spring/Summer 2025

NORTH STATE PARENT FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE SPRING/SUMMER 2025 FAMILY LIFE & SUPPORT
What impact did opting out have on your kids’ schooling and educational experiences?
While I can’t speak for the alternative because a tech-free education is a path we’ve unapologetically traversed from the beginning, I know that my children do not struggle to focus, nor do they battle dysregulation, overstimulation, disruption of the body clock, poor concentration, hormonal imbalances or chronic stress levels, all of which are noted to carry an overwhelming correlation to screen usage in the classroom.
Dr. Victoria Dunckley, a wonderful resource I relied on throughout the writing of my book, says, “There’s a persistent worry [I see] from parents: If I continue to restrict access to technology, will my child get left behind? But supporting brain integration by being as screen-free as possible means you’ll be optimizing your child’s learning ability. A child who has great computer skills but poor frontal lobe functioning will have trouble advancing in anything, since good frontal lobe function is needed to ‘get things done,’ tolerate frustration and develop a strong social network. The frontal lobe is where creativity, innovation, discipline, ‘big picture’ thinking and grit are born and bred.”
“So who will be left behind?” she quips. “The child who cannot concentrate.”
In a world that’s inundated with tech, how do you and your kids uphold your family’s tech guidelines when you’re out in the world, playing with friends, at school, attending activities, etc.?
It’s a simple metric for us: people over pixels. At all times, whenever possible, we’re going to choose to be present for and to the people around us, rather than keeping one eye on our inbox or game stats or social media likes, etc.
Practically speaking, I’m often without a phone entirely, as are my children, so it’s an easy value to uphold. There’s no temptation to snap a quick photo or check a quick email or perform any of those“quick”tasks that often pull us out of a moment. Instead, we find ourselves enjoying the day for what it is, not the content it can provide.
If families want to join the opt-out movement, what’s the easiest first step?
My first recommendation is for parents to experiment with a dumbed- down device (it takes just two minutes and is 100% free at optoutfamily.com/ tip). The second? Join (or launch) a Co-Opt-Out in your hometown. Go to optoutfamily.com/cooptout for plug-and-play text message scripts, suggested activities, guidelines and FAQs. It’s the easiest way to meet like-minded families and experience a vibrant social circle with others who are willing to forgo social media in favor of social meaning.
What’s one takeaway you hope families get from reading your book?
My deepest hope is that parents everywhere can read “The Opt-Out Family” and experience the freedom that comes with shelving the tech battle altogether — of opting out instead of tiptoeing in, compromising inch by inch until we eventually wave the white flag of Big Tech surrender. The truth is, we don’t have to be victims of Silicon Valley’s latest whims. We can rally, rise up and choose something better for our kids, and we have every tool necessary to do that. The bottom line is this: We’re not opting out because we’re fearful. We’re opting out because we believe in a bold and revolutionary generation and we’re not afraid to raise the kids that will soon become it. Ó
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT BackyardSolutions
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT EarlyChildhoodPrograms
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT Family&CommunityResourceCenters & Caring Services
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT FosterCare&Adoption
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT GriefSupport
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT LegalAssistance
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT ParentingClasses&Enrichment
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT Playgroups
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT ToyShops:Specialty&LocallyOwned
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT Twins&Multiples
BACKYARD SOLUTIONS
MULTIPLE COUNTIES
About Trees. Serving Chico, Paradise, Red Bluff, Redding and surrounding areas. About Trees would like to remind you that any time of year is a good time to remove dead branches and raise the canopy for your tree’s health and appearance. For a free consul- tation please contact us. Abouttrees.us. 2 Crusader Ct., Chico. (530) 343-4533. 2580 Victor Ave, Suite D, Redding. (530)246-2477. Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression, Inc. Hazardous Fuels Reduction. While there is no 100% guarantee against the devastating effects of wildfire, Firestorm can assist you in developing a sustainable approach to keeping your property safe. We utilize a multi-faceted approach to vegetation man- agement from simple weed abatement to large scale tree and brush thinning projects catered to each individual homeowner’s needs. firestormfire.com. 1100 Fortress St. Suite 2, Chico. (530) 898-8153.
Hiller Demolition; Multiple counties. Locat- ed in Red Bluff. Demolition, trash hauling, job site cleanup and equipment delivery. Free bids. facebook.com/people/Hiller-Dem- olition-and-Removal/61550241375274 @ hiller-demoliton. (530)410-3822.
North Valley Tree Service. North Valley Tree Service professionals are trained and knowl- edgeable in all aspects of arboriculture, with years of experience. Our tree professionals include: certified arborists, electric utility veg- etation management and storm response, tree climbers and aerial lift specialists. nvtree. com. 3882 Esplanade, Chico. (530) 893-9649.
TEHAMA COUNTY
Alsco, Inc.; Red Bluff. Alsco, Inc. has provid- ed quality service and irrigation products for farms, ranches, lawns and gardens
for over 60 years. We provide irrigation solutions for the commercial farmer and the home gardener. The products we carry are top of the line and we will assist you with the right purchase. alscoirrigation.com. 535 Antelope Blvd. (530) 527-4001.
Sequoia Sheds; Red Bluff. Providing locally built backyard structures to the North State. Craft rooms, backyard offices, garden sheds and storage sheds built and set up at your location. Top-notch quality and great, friendly customer service. Free estimates. Specializes in 120 sq. ft. structures and smaller. sequoi- asheds.com. 13481 Baker Rd. (530) 840-4465.
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS
MULTIPLE COUNTIES
California Early Start. Ages birth-36 mos. An interagency system of coordinated services for infants & toddlers with disabil- ities & their families. Find out about early intervention services in your community. dds.ca.gov/services/early-start/. earlystart@ dds.ca.gov. (800)515-BABY.
Far Northern Regional Center. Serving
9 counties in the North-Eastern most part of CA. FNRC partners with persons with developmental disabilities to live how they choose as equal and valued members of the community. Referrals for services and supports from birth through adulthood: farnorthernrc.org; (530)332-1529. Send mail to P.O. Box 492418, Redding, CA 96049.
Redding: 1900 Churn Creek Rd., Suite 114. (530)222-4791.
Chico: 1377 East Lassen Ave. (530)895- 8633.
Satellite Offices: Red Bluff, Lake Almanor,
Mt Shasta and Yreka
First 5 California, California Children & Families Commission. First 5’s mission is to improve the lives of children from concep- tion through kindergarten. Collaborates with and supports local agencies serving families with young children. Some offices offer resource information to families, caregivers and others who work with young children. The First 5 California website includes a parent resource and education section. First5california.com.
Butte County; Oroville: first5butte.org. (530)552-4019.
Glenn County; Willows: first5glenncounty. com. (530)934-6608.
Shasta County; Redding: first5shasta.org. (530)646-3780.
Siskiyou County; Mt. Shasta: first5siskiyou. org. (530)918-7222.
Tehama County; Red Bluff: first5tehama.
org. (530)528-1395.
United Way of Northern California – From parenting resources to disaster prepared- ness, we’re here to help! Shasta, Siskiyou and Tehama County residents: Get con- nected to a FREE, confidential 24/7 referral service provided by United Way of Northern California for health and human services resources. Dial or text 2-1-1 from any phone, or visit 211norcal.org.
Redding: (530)241-7521.
Chico: (530)809-4663. norcalunitedway.org Butte & Glenn County residents: visit helpcentral.org to get connected to the 211operator in your area.
BUTTE COUNTY
Butte Baby Steps; Chico. Open to parents of all ages who are either expecting or have a child younger than 3 months. Based on a national program, helps parents get their children off to a healthy start. Includes home visits and service referrals from trained staff. Northern CA Catholic Relief Services. nvcss.org/programs/butte-baby- steps. 10 Independence Circle. (530)345- 1600 xt 21560.
Out of this World-Our Solar System & Beyond
July 14 -17, 2025
Would you travel to Mars if you could? What can earth’s oceans and volcanos reveal about alien life?
Where fun and learning come together!
Toothless and Stich: Misfit Heroes Who Bring Us Together
July 21- 24, 2025
Explore Viking and Hawaiian
cultures through the eyes of Toothless the dragon, and Stich the E.T. Discover the plants and animals of their lands and learn how each one finds the courage to belong.
JOIN US FOR
Museum Camp Summer 2025
REGISTER EARLY! CLASSES FILL FAST!
Visit csuchico.edu/anthmuseum for more information
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www.northstateparent.com • North State Parent Family Resource Guide Spring/Summer 2025 49