Child Development & Parenting State Specialist
Human Development & Relationships Institute
Hometown: Kewaskum, WI
Dr. Roxy Etta is the Child Development and Parenting State Specialist at the UW-Madison Division of Extension, translating research into practical programs that support families and the professionals who serve them. She is a nationally recognized expert in child development and digital media, and has spoken at conferences and events around the globe. Dr. Etta and her co-founded venture, Those Media Moms, was featured on Good Morning America, sharing expertise in parenting and screen time.
Recently, Dr. Etta collaborated with Children and Screens: Institute for Digital Media and Child Development to co-develop a school-based program to support healthier screen use. She also developed the Healthy Media Habits Curriculum for the Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, providing evidence-based guidance on young children and media for parents and community providers.
Dr. Etta earned her PhD in Human Development and Family Studies from UW-Madison in 2023, where her research focused on children’s learning, relationships, and development in the context of digital media. She has been recognized as a Millennium Scholar by the Society for Research on Child Development (2017) and an Edward A. Bouchet Honor Scholar by UW-Madison and Yale University (2019).
Talks:
Raising Kids in a Tech-Filled World
Young children now spend nearly 2.5 hours a day on screens, and early media habits can influence their development. This talk gives parents, caregivers, and educators practical strategies to guide media use, support healthy development, and prevent problematic habits before they start.
Media & The Mental Health Crisis
As digital media becomes a bigger part of everyday life, concerns about its role in children and teens’ mental health have grown. This presentation focuses on practical, research-informed strategies to support healthy media habits and promote emotional well-being throughout childhood.
Healthy Media Use in Schools & Communities
Children and teens’ digital media habits are shaped by families, schools, and communities. This session explores practical, collaborative strategies to support balanced screen use and create environments where young people can thrive. Topics may include school phone guidelines and device-free learning time, parent and caregiver education programs to build healthy media habits at home, and community partnerships that encourage positive digital use outside of school. Participants will leave with actionable ideas and resources to help students, families, and staff promote responsible, balanced media use.