📘 Pine Valley Book Study: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Hello Pine Valley families,
Thank you for joining us in this shared community book study. One of our goals as a school district is to better understand the world our children are growing up in today—and how we, as adults, can best support their learning, well-being, and development. This book study is an opportunity to pause, learn together, and reflect on how modern childhood has changed and what that means for families and schools.
This conversation is especially timely. This school year, New York State implemented a statewide “bell-to-bell” phone policy, asking students to keep smartphones and other internet-enabled devices off and away during the school day. The intent of this regulation is to reduce distractions, support learning, and promote student well-being. Because this policy directly connects to how technology shapes childhood, it became the starting point—and the inspiration—for this book study with our families and community.
Whether you are reading along with the book or simply following the reflections shared here, your voice and perspective matter.

📖 Part 1: “The Tidal Wave”

In Part 1 of The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt sets the stage for the challenge facing today’s children—and all of us who care about them.
The Big Idea:
Over the past decade, childhood has changed rapidly and dramatically. Haidt describes a “tidal wave” that began in the early 2010s, when smartphones, social media, and constant online connection became part of everyday life for children and adolescents. At the same time, kids began spending less time playing freely, independently, and face-to-face.
These two shifts—
📱 More phone-based childhood
🚲 Less real-world, independent play
—collided, and the results have been significant.
What Haidt Highlights:

• Rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness among young people increased sharply
• Kids are more digitally connected, but often feel more socially isolated
• Fewer opportunities exist for children to build independence, problem-solving skills, and resilience
• Adults are more present online and more protective offline—sometimes without realizing it

This section is not about blaming parents, schools, or children. It is about awareness. Haidt invites us to step back and examine how childhood has shifted—and what those changes might mean for kids’ mental health, relationships, and ability to thrive.

💬 Let’s Reflect Together

We invite you to respond to one or more of the following:

📲 How do you see smartphones and social media affecting kids’ relationships, attention, or stress levels?
🏫 As we enter the second semester of the school year, how do you feel the new phone policy has been going so far for students and families? What changes—positive or challenging—have you noticed?
🤝 What opportunities do you see for helping kids build independence, confidence, and healthy connections?
There are no right or wrong answers—just shared experiences and thoughtful reflection.
📚 Looking Ahead
As we continue this book study, we’ll explore how these changes in childhood affect kids socially, emotionally, and academically—and what families and schools can do together to support healthier, more balanced childhoods.
Thank you for being part of the conversation and for partnering with us in support of our students.
**Copies of the book were given out at open house this fall. If you did not receive a copy and would like one, please reach out to any of our offices, and we will get a book to you.