ScreenStrong Families The Holiday Blind Spot Every Parent Needs to Hear About with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#252)
Dec 4, 2025
Dr. Adriana Stacey, a psychologist specializing in parenting, joins Melanie Hempe to reveal the top screen gifting mistake parents make during the holidays. They discuss the often-overlooked pressure to gift devices and the resulting impact on child development. Dr. Stacey emphasizes that teaching kids to use social media wisely isn’t enough, and guilt can lead to poor tech choices. The duo advocates for meaningful alternatives, like experience gifts and holiday activities, encouraging parents to prioritize healthier screen habits for their children.
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Kid Stops Distracted Parent In Parking Lot
- Melanie Hempe watched a mother on her phone almost walk her child into traffic and the six-year-old had to shout, "Mom, stop."
- The story shows how parental distraction with phones creates real safety blind spots during busy seasons like holidays.
Holiday Urgency Deepens Parental Blind Spots
- Parents develop blind spots that let them treat kids like mini-adults and justify early tech exposure.
- The holiday urgency magnifies those blind spots, leading to regrettable tech gifts.
Trust Development, Delay Tech Milestones
- Trust the process of human development and avoid rushing milestones like smartphone readiness.
- Use adult judgment now rather than pushing kids into adult-level technology early.
