The Blue Hill Public Library is proud to sponsor a talk with Dr. Devorah Heitner about her book Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World on Wednesday September 18 at 7pm in the library's Pearson Room. 

Kids today are growing up in a hyper-connected world: whether they are seeking out entertainment, gaming, social time, or homework, most of their lives are likely online. Dr. Heitner will be at the library to speak on her book, and to share tips and tricks for parents, educators, teens, and others who are navigating the fast-changing digital world. 

Join to learn:

• How parents can mentor children as they grow up on Roblox, Instagram, TikTok, Discord, and other social media apps 

• How can we help them navigate a world where they can be exposed to problematic content 

• How parents can help kids be thoughtful about their digital footprint and reputation 

• Strategies for teaching tweens and teens to recognize how social media affects their mood and mental health, and when to take a break 

• How to foster a collaborative understanding of digital etiquitte with your child rather than simply monitoring their activities

• How can we help our kids (and ourselves) find the balance between plugged and unplugged activities 

• How to work on sleep habits to balance screen time and get enough rest 

• How to support kids in staying true to themselves as they grow up "in public" on social media apps 

Dr. Devorah Heitner is the author of Growing Up in Public and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World. Dr. Heitner's work has appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN Opinion. She has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology & Society from Northwestern University and has taught at DePaul and Northwestern. She is delighted to be raising her own teenager. You can follow her on Twitter @Devorahheitner and on Instagram @devorahheitnerphd. 

Blue Hill Books will be onsite, and copies of the book will be available for purchase. This program is free and sponsored by the library thanks to the generosity of the Anahata Foundation. If you have questions please contact Kayleigh Thomas at kayleigh.thomas@bhpl.net or call the library at 374-5515.

The Robert K. & Linda B. Slaven Lecture Series seeks to bring distinguished speakers with expertise in a wide array of subjects to Blue Hill to share their knowledge on topics of importance to the community and the world. It is supported by a generous gift from the Anahata Foundation.

As part of this Slaven Lecture Series, the library is also sponsoring three community discussion groups, May 9 at 6 PM for educators, July 18 at 6 PM for parents and caregivers, and September 12 at 6 PM for the general public. This program is sponsored by the library, though special thanks go to George Stevens Academy, the Bay School, and the Blue Hill Harbor School for helping cover travel costs for the author.

Copies of the book are now available to check out at the library. If you have any questions about the book discussions, please contact Kendall at kendall.chapman@bhpl.net or Olivia at oliviaz@bhpl.net.