ScreenStrong Families

In this episode of the ScreenStrong podcast, Melanie talks to James Good, whose young life was overtaken by video game addiction. James describes how as he moved through high school and into university, his healthy hobbies, interests, and friendships were slowly replaced by gaming until he began to struggle socially, emotionally, and academically. One of James’ key realizations as he beat his gaming problem was that he had never learned how to “do hard things”–he has since built his ability to concentrate and deal with boredom through meditation, exercise, journaling, and goal-setting. James learned that although gaming felt like an easy escape, it actually made real life feel more difficult. Melanie notes how common James’ story is, since her own son and many others have followed the same path from a normal (and even gifted) childhood to a crippling gaming addiction. James also describes exactly how he quit gaming for the first time at nineteen, inspired by others’ stories of fulfilling accomplishments and pursuing fascinating hobbies, and spurred by the realization that video games are truly designed to be addictive to young men.Hear more from James Good on his YouTube channel. Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Tom Kersting, author of our May Book of the Month (BOTM) pick "Disconnected," joins the entire ScreenStrong Team and members from our community to answer YOUR questions about fear culture, parental denial, teen privacy online, smartphones in school, and so much more!Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

In this episode, Barb Winters, a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist, discusses the emotional discovery of her son’s pornography exposure and her passion to help parents not suffer alone in isolation after making similar discoveries. She and Melanie talk through tips to prevent porn use for teens and some unique approaches to help kids engage in helpful conversations.  Subscribe at Barb's website hopefulmom.net to receive updates and a free resource, “7 Actions When Your Child Has Seen Porn.” You can also follow her Facebook Page.Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

In the second half of Melanie’s discussion with author Tom Kersting, they move on to his chapters about how technology affects children’s social and emotional development, and how family dynamics are negatively impacted by screen saturation in kids. Kersting focuses on problems that Melanie and other parents are familiar with: kids who would rather game than make real friends, emotional dysregulation, and a feeling of disconnection between the generations. Finally, Melanie and Tom delve into the third section of ‘Disconnected,’ which gives tips, techniques, and practical solutions to mitigate problems caused by technology and help parents reconnect their children with their families, their friends, and with their own minds. Kersting emphasizes the importance of teaching children how to think independently of their peers and how to be mindful about all aspects of their lives, including their tech use. Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Nate Webb is a bullying survivor and high school counselor who started the Bullies Be Gone podcast and speaks at schools about bullying, social media, and how kids can get back to loving their lives. As a counselor, he has seen how smartphone access and social media have exacerbated bullying by opening kids up to 24/7 contact with their peers. In his conversation with Melanie, Nate emphasizes his parents’ positive influence on his attitude as a suffering middle- and high-schooler, and gives advice about how parents can “love their kids louder than their insecurities can hate them.” He believes that when kids are exposed to more communication and kindness, they can not only overcome being bullied, but also stop bullying others.You can find Nate on Instagram: @bulliesbe.gone www.linktr.ee/bulliesbe.goneSupport the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Mary Mulliken is a healthy screen habits coach who encourages families to parent their children to be creators and not consumers of their environment. She is writing a book, Supercharged: 50 Reasons to Raise Kids Screen-Free from Birth to Age Seven.  In today’s episode, Melanie and Mary talk about the benefits of raising your children screen-free during their early childhood years. From stimulating creativity in ideas as well as actions, Mary shared some of her family’s traditions and rituals with us. This interview is inspiring, perspective-shifting, and hopeful in bringing childhood back to real-life experiences. Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

In today's episode, Melanie speaks with Opal Singleton. She is the President and CEO of Million Kids and serves as the Training and Outreach Coordinator for the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force and is contracted for human trafficking training services through the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Opal has authored two books, Seduced: The Grooming of America's Teenagers, and Societal Shift: A World Without Borders...A Home Without Walls. She has educated tens of thousands of first responders, government agencies, civic leaders, school administrators, medical personnel, faith-based organizations, parents and grandparents about how predators operate and how to prevent young people from becoming victims of exploitation. If you have any question about the harm a smartphone can have on your child, then this is the episode for you. Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

In this episode Melanie speaks with Tom Kersting, our featured author of our book of the month, Disconnected: How to Reconnect our Digitally Distracted Kids. Tom began his career as a School Counselor and Therapist almost twenty-five years ago. He is a nationally known speaker, author, TV personality, and he has a private practice located in Ridgewood, New Jersey.Melanie and Tom explore the first part of his book where he discusses "Acquired ADHD" and other warning signs resulting from overexposure electronic screen exposure. They discuss how the overuse of technology has negatively impacted adolescents' ability to develop social relationships, create positive self-esteem, and a true sense of self. Melanie and Tom discuss how more screen exposure (with virtual classes) will create a stress response in kids that will likely result in increased anxiety, school phobia, and school avoidance. They give parents positive practical tips to help reduce family stress and increase family connection.Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Dr. Victoria Dunckley, author of our April Book of the Month (BOTM) pick "Reset Your Child's Brain" joins the entire ScreenStrong Team and members from our community to answer YOUR questions about screens and teens, tips for getting through the screen reset, how to troubleshoot difficult transitions, and so much more!Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

 Melissa is an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory integration and processing. Her focus has moved from helping children with developmental delays to helping children and young people with screen and media addictions. This career trajectory made it clear to Melissa that the two problems were increasingly connected. Dependence on screens presents new challenges to sensory integration because children are no longer experiencing the world through physical experience the way they did a generation ago. Melanie and Melissa discuss how screen addiction affects children not only mentally and emotionally, but physically and socially as well. We all know that screen use changes the structure of kids’ brains—Melissa explains exactly how this happens and the negative effects she sees in real-life children in her practice. Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin