It seems that it is part of our job description as parents to worry about our kids. We want our kids to be happy and healthy, and we are understandably concerned about potential threats to child and teen happiness. Every generation seems to have new threats that ring the alarm bells. Screens have had…
Problems with Screen Time Research When it comes to understanding the effects of screen time on kids (and the rest of us!), we want to know the “truth.” We want to use accurate information to guide our parenting. Facts matter in this world. After all, we wouldn’t want to have surgery to remove our…
It’s safe for me to assume, since you are reading this, that you are a human being. Since you are, I know that there are times that anger has gotten the best of you. I know it has for me. I am not proud to say that I had quite a temper when I…
Sadly, America recently experienced several mass shootings in August of 2019 leaving 53 dead. How could this happen? Are video games to blame? What caused these recent mass shootings? Trump said that “Mental illness and hate pulled the trigger, not the gun.” But then he went on to, at least in part, blame video…
Here’s my family scene from a few of months ago: My wife and I were at the airport waiting for a flight to go to New Mexico for a skiing trip. This would be the first time that our three boys (ages 7, 12, and 15) had ever gone skiing, so they were quite…
My “proof” that your (and my) social media posts don’t really matter is to mean that they don’t matter significantly. When we compare the time it takes to post a photo (including time to edit, write a punny caption, etc.) to the amount of joy “likes” give us, it seems the benefits of social…
We’ve all seen movies or read books about technology becoming evil or dangerous, right? The first movie that comes to my mind is James Whale’s Frankenstein. Its running theme is the power of science and its unintended consequences. The same goes for plots from every Michael Crichton book (e.g., Jurassic Park, Westworld). It’s scary to think, but many…
“Always try your best” is a sage piece of advice almost every parent has shared with their kids. This saying is seemingly innocent, but in reality it’s not. When we really examine what we are saying, we’ll realize its inherent contradiction. Let’s say we are trying to take our own advice and always do…
As parents, we should think about how we were affected by screens as kids. As you read this blog, I encourage you to think about the questions I’m asking and reflect on your personal experiences. Are you ready? Think Back To your youth Did your parents have restrictions on the screen content you could…
We long for answers about the effects of screens on kids, but these are elusive. There are legitimate reasons to be concerned about the effects of screens on kids (and the rest of us). Given how popular smartphones, gaming, streaming media, and social media are, these technologies are certainly worthy of researchers’ attention. We…