Meet the Creators

We’re both former teachers with masters degrees, moms, co-chairs in the Screen Time Action Network at Fairplay, and passionate about healthy child development!

How It Started

Research linking screen time with thinning white matter in young children’s brains shocked Katie into action. As a preschool teacher, she wanted parents to understand this research, while reminding them of all the simple ways they could actually grow young brains instead. Let’s Grow Brain P.O.W.E.R.! was born.

Katie and Kailan met in the Early Childhood Work Group at the Screen Time Action Network at Fairplay in 2020 and immediately clicked! They expanded the Let’s Grow Brain P.O.W.E.R.! framework into an entire garden analogy that illustrates healthy child development, brain development, and social-emotional skills. Using their creativity and experience as teachers, they simplify the science of child development and how technology can interfere, in a fun and relatable way.

Meet the Team

  • Katie Talarico, M.S.Ed.

    Co-Creator · Certified Digital Wellness Educator

    Katie Talarico, M.S.Ed. is a certified digital wellness educator, parent, and former teacher. She has been a member of Fairplay’s Screen Time Action Network since 2018, and now serves as co-chair of the Early Childhood Work Group. She is also a co-founder of PA Unplugged, and is passionate about healthy child development!

  • Kailan Carr, M.Ed.

    Co-Creator · Children’s Book Author

    Kailan Carr, M.Ed. is the author of the children’s book Screens Away, Time to Play, plus a few others! As a former teacher and mom of two, she is passionate about play. She is also the co-chair of the Early Childhood Work Group at the Screen Time Action Network and has her masters degree in Literacy. She founded kailancarr.com to help parents and caregivers provide screen-free activities through her books, printable activities, and quiet book patterns.

We’d love to meet with you to discuss Let’s Grow Brain P.O.W.E.R.!