Beyond the Screen: Shincheonji Cheonan Church Uses Community Gardening to Treat Smartphone Overdependence in Children
In an era deeply saturated with digital devices, the simple act of touching soil and nurturing a living plant has become a rare luxury for children. Today's youth are incredibly adept at swiping screens and consuming rapid-fire short-form videos, but they are increasingly estranged from the patient, natural process of planting a seed and waiting for it to bear fruit. With recent statistics revealing that a staggering 43.0% of South Korean youth are classified as at risk for smartphone overdependence , the need for tangible, real-world intervention is more pressing than ever. To address this digital fatigue, the Cheonan Church of the Matthias Tribe of Shincheonji launched a unique initiative called the "Sharing Garden" within its church grounds. Designed to replace smartphone screens with gardening trowels, the program offers children a profound, dirt-on-their-hands experience that fosters emotional health, patience, and a deep appreciation for life. A Living Classroom: ...