Although technology and social communication are excellent resources for our world today, often these advanced methods can be harmful to people, especially children. Almost every day, there are reports of children and teenagers committing suicide due to cyberbullying and other dangerous pitfalls that can easily be found on the Internet. A major reason for these sad occurrences has been traced to social media.
Despite the advantages of social media, the dangers of this powerful resource can be damaging to the development of children. That is a platform that Ben and Erin Napier of HGTV’s Hometown are fighting to eliminate from the lives of young people around the world. Erin Napier was alarmed when she did some research and discovered that “social media is as addictive and destructive for developing brains as any drug.” She was determined to do whatever she could to help eliminate this problem.
Last year, the Napiers helped to develop Osprey—a national campaign to give children the best upbringing possible by creating a network of friends and family that is based on “real-world engagement.” She and her husband have observed the dangers that social media can have on the world, and it is their goal to keep their children away from social media until they have graduated from high school.
“Through Osprey, we’re working to foster an environment for kids to be social—without social media,” Erin Napier said.
The Napiers want to bring a traditional, old-fashioned upbringing for their children—much like the lives that they were fortunate to experience before social media took over the world. Erin Napier’s youth was filled with reading and painting, and her husband enjoyed a childhood of enjoying the great outdoors and learning woodworking skills that would prove valuable in his adult life. They enjoyed sweet, simple small-town lives, and they want to bring that to their own little ones and all children as well.
Their love of all things nostalgic has led them to host the Old School Festival, sponsored by Osprey and C-Spire. On March 9, Erin and Ben Napier will be hosting workshops on the simple pleasures of life and teaching invaluable skills while the children get a chance to interact with one another without a phone or digital device in their hands. At the Laurel Mercantile Co., and the Scotsman General Store, in Laurel, the Napiers and other talented individuals will lead workshops for kids on woodworking, gardening, art, and music. The kids will get a chance to learn skills that often are not taught in families any longer, and they will get the opportunity to express themselves artistically and musically. Plus, they’ll be able to get their hands a little dirty while learning more about gardening and will experience the joy of watching something they planted grow.
There will also be panels with experts and Osprey kids. Ticket holders are invited to bring their lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy the event. They will receive a catered box lunch and have the chance to enjoy a fun time together. This is a truly special event that shouldn’t be missed. Mark your calendar for Sat., March 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets for the Old School Festival can be purchased at www.ospreykids.com/events. For more information on this event and Osprey, click here.
