Reclaiming Focus: Evidence-Based Strategies for Kids in a Screen-Filled World
In today’s digital landscape, children and teens are growing up in a constant stream of short-form videos, notifications, and social media, making it harder to sustain attention, regulate emotions, and stay engaged in everyday life. Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Ariel Kornblum, will help parents understand how screen use is impacting attention, mood, and development—and what parents can do about it.
Drawing on current research and clinical expertise, Dr. Kornblum will provide clear, actionable strategies to help your child build healthier relationships with technology while strengthening focus, resilience, and emotional well-being.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the impact of screens on the developing brain: Learn how short-form content and social media influence attention, motivation, and emotional regulation
- Support motivation and follow-through: Use evidence-based strategies to reduce overwhelm, break down tasks, and help your child stay engaged
- Set effective, realistic boundaries: Implement limits and routines that reduce conflict and actually work in busy family life
- Promote focus and self-regulation skills: Use practical, evidence-based strategies to help your child sustain attention and manage impulses
- Support healthier digital habits long-term: Shift from constant restriction to skill-building that fosters independence and balance
About Instructor
Dr. Ariel Kornblum is a licensed psychologist in New York State (#021301), a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA, #1-16-23753), and a New York State Licensed Behavior Analyst (#001532). She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from The George Washington University and completed her graduate studies at St. John's University. Dr. Kornblum also completed the CPD Accredited Training for professionals for supporting PDA children through the UK PDA society, as well as the level 1 and 2 trainings through PDANA.
In her current role as Senior Director of Clinical Operations, Behavioral & Educational Services, Dr. Kornblum leads a multidisciplinary team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA), Licensed Behavior Analysts (LBA), behavior therapists, and certified special educators. This team provides comprehensive academic and therapeutic support to learners ages 2 to 21+ across schools, homes, and communities throughout the New York City metropolitan area. Dr. Kornblum also collaborates with special education attorneys, families, and school staff to provide expert testimony, enhance treatment integrity, and optimize clinical outcomes.
Additionally, Dr. Kornblum is licensed to offer telehealth services in Florida, New Jersey, and Michigan. She specializes in a range of therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), behavioral parent management training (PMT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), and applied behavior analysis (ABA). She also provides school and teacher consultations and executive function coaching.
Her areas of expertise encompass behavior management, school refusal, social skills development, and the treatment of anxiety and depression. Dr. Kornblum works closely with families to address behavioral challenges related to ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). She takes a collaborative approach to treatment, partnering with parents, caregivers, school teams, and external providers to ensure consistency and the successful application of evidence-based practices.
With a commitment to neurodiversity-affirming practices, Dr. Kornblum integrates these principles into all of her clinical work to promote sustainable, positive outcomes. A regular presenter to parents and professionals, she speaks on a variety of topics, including anxiety treatment, ASD, PDA, behavior management, and evidence-based interventions.
