ScreenStrong Families

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 KBS Home Edition! Start your ScreenStrong Journey today! Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more! Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador! ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount) Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & 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 KBS Home Edition! Start your ScreenStrong Journey today! Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more! Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador! ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount) Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & 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 KBS Home Edition! Start your ScreenStrong Journey today! Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more! Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador! ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount) Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & 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 KBS Home Edition! Start your ScreenStrong Journey today! Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more! Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador! ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount) Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & 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 KBS Home Edition! Start your ScreenStrong Journey today! Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more! Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador! ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount) Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & 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 KBS Home Edition! Start your ScreenStrong Journey today! Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more! Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador! ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount) Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & 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 KBS Home Edition! Start your ScreenStrong Journey today! Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more! Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador! ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount) Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

In this second episode featuring Dr. Victoria Dunckley, Melanie and Victoria discuss the goals and outcomes highlighted in the second half of the integrative psychiatrist’s book, Reset Your Child’s Brain: A Four Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen Time. Victoria provides practical advice to parents on how to prepare for the reset, including how to engage a reluctant spouse, tips for the single parent, and what to expect from your child once you implement the reset plan. She also dispels some of the parental myths connected with screen and tech use, such as loss of friendships and preparing kids for adulthood by allowing technology use at an early age. Victoria describes the reset as a grieving process that creates a shift in your child’s thinking and allows your child’s brain to become stronger, more connected, and resilient. “A better developed brain is what manages and governs self-discipline in every area of life, including technology use.” BOTM: Reset Your Child’s Brain: A Four Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen Time. 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 KBS Home Edition! Start your ScreenStrong Journey today! Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more! Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador! ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount) Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Anne Marie McDonald is Vice President of PR & Strategy for Gabb Wireless, the company that provides talk and text phones without access to internet or social media to help kids and teens stay safely connected without temptation or distraction. In this episode, Melanie talks to the working mother of four about the dangers of typical smartphones for children and teenagers, and how Anne Marie became passionate about helping kids thrive without them, both within and beyond her own family.  Anne Marie only began working for Gabb after witnessing the benefits of a smartphone-free lifestyle for her own oldest teen, so she has a wealth of experience and advice for real parents facing the same challenges in their homes. She describes how even with a Gabb phone, parents are responsible for teaching their kids the lessons they need to absorb about phone safety and staying protected. 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 KBS Home Edition! Start your ScreenStrong Journey today! Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more! Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador! ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount) Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Smith Alley, a brave and inspiring 17-year-old, shares his story of a five year battle with pornography addiction as well as his struggles with social media. Determined to be more than a “success story,” he founded his company, Protecht Strong, to help families safely set up technology limits in their home. Melanie and Smith discuss what it means to prepare our children for the real world and that preparing doesn’t have to mean giving them a phone. Smith challenges parents to ask themselves, “Am I getting this device or giving them access because I want to be their friend or because I’m trying to be their parent?” before handing them a smartphone or other device. This episode is one that invokes reflection on how you are communicating with your children about difficult and hidden issues. It is one that challenges you to consider where your “blind spots” are in your relationship with your children. 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 KBS Home Edition! Start your ScreenStrong Journey today! Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more! Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador! ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount) Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin