ScreenStrong Families

In today’s episode, Melanie has a conversation with filmmaker, author, and mother, Tiffany Shlain, who created a transformative weekly practice that she calls “Tech Shabbat'' for her family. She shares how taking one day completely off screens every week can inspire creativity, connectedness, and introspection. Tiffany and Melanie have a candid discussion about raising kids more offline than online and why we should pay attention to who is shaping your child. They talk about the benefits of going countercultural by practicing a ScreenStrong lifestyle. You can find Tiffany’s book 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week on Amazon. 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 Recommendations Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

In this episode, Ashlee Ayre, an insightful and courageous young woman, shares her story of her 6-year addiction to pornography that started at age 11 when her parents gave her a smart phone. Melanie and Ashlee talk about the insidious nature of social media and the hidden dangers in Apps like Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media sites. They discuss how explicit content is easily accessible to children by a click or a swipe. Ashlee talks about her relationship with her mom and how they managed through the dark days while bringing to real life a problem that is hidden in the lives of so many teens today. She emphasizes the importance of creating a connection with your children that allows for continued communication about difficult situations as well as creating an environment of trust and safety, which is ultimately what parents want to provide their 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 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 Recommendations Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Dr. Douglas Gentile is an award-winning research scientist, educator, author, and is professor of developmental psychology at Iowa State University. In this episode, he and Melanie discuss the science that supports the addictive quality of video games and the resistance of parents to believe the evidence supporting the conclusion to the question, "Are video games addictive?"  He hints as to what is coming in the near future in regards to the diagnosis of issues related to screen use and the creation of screening tools to identify when overuse becomes a problem. Dr. Gentile concludes that video games don't allow kids to build the skills they need in the real world and cautions parents, "Don't feed the bears!" He encourages setting limits and creating balance in your family despite the resistance kids may present. "It's worth having the fight...trust that parenting matters." 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 Recommendations Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Dr. Leonard Sax is an American Psychologist and Family Physician with over 30 years experience. He is the internationally acclaimed author of our featured book, The Collapse of Parenting, which identifies a cultural shift in the parenting role in relation to the way parents are raising their children.In this conversation, Melanie and Dr. Sax focus on Chapters 1 thru 5, identifying multiple factors that have lead to a loss of parental authority. He pinpoints the toxic cultural shift over the last 20-30 years that is now at the forefront of our popular culture. Dr. Sax's book is weighted with research and world-wide studies that cover the negative impacts of sleep deprivation, over-importance of peer relationships, and the uncensored media use that are now having profound consequences on America's 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 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 Recommendations Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

George Lynn and Cynthia Johnson, co-authors of our January Book of the Month (BOTM) pick "Breaking the Trance," join the entire ScreenStrong Team and members from our community to answer YOUR screen questions.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 Recommendations Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

In an online seminar, Melanie discusses how to reduce problematic screen use when learning from home.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 Recommendations Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Patricia Gefert is a recently retired Early Childhood Educator of 35 years, a mother and grandmother, and a ScreenStrong Ambassador. In this podcast, Patricia shares her experiences with children from Kindergarten to Early Elementary. She notes the drastic changes she has witnessed in children's learning over the past 10-15 years, particularly how screens have affected their academic and social development. Patricia provides specific ideas and strategies for helping children grow in healthier ways, without screens, that focus on improving both brain and physical development to help create a strong foundation for growth, creativity, learning, and language.  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 Recommendations Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Jessica Ludlow joins Melanie Hempe to share the most recent events in her journey to becoming a ScreenStrong Family.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 Recommendations Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Melanie interviews George Lynn, co-author of "Breaking the Trance," our January pick for the ScreenStrong Book Club.Get your physical or eBook copies of Breaking the Trance and read along with us!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 Recommendations Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Melanie is joined by Lydia, a teen with an incredibly emotional ScreenStrong Challenge testimony.  Interested in being a podcast guest? Email us at team@screenstrong.com!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 Recommendations Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount) Production Team: Host: Melanie Hempe Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin