Smartphones Provide Fuel for Helicopter Parents Want independent kids? Disconnect their phones. Sarah pulled up to her last stop on a rushed Monday morning. It was her day to drive the carpool. Devon opened the door and collapsed into his seat. After fastening his seatbelt, he stared into his smartphone without stopping to greet…
Why Smartphones Make Horrible Holiday Gifts Considering giving your child a smartphone this holiday season? Think again. Every parent desires to give their children the perfect gift during the holidays. We long to see the look on our children’s faces when they open what they have been begging for all year. Secretly, we want them…
It’s Okay to be Different How we learned to be a ScreenStrong Family in a screen addicted world. by Julie Christian, ScreenStrong Ambassador “I don’t want to go to school today,” my 10-year-old son whined. Jacob was the most naturally curious of my three children. He loved going to school. His words were a…
What’s the Best Age to Give My Teen a Smartphone? Finally, a simple answer that makes perfect sense. by Melanie Hempe, BSN If you’re looking for confirmation that smartphones and social media are good for your kids, this is not one of those posts. The “best age” question is a trick question. Here’s why.…
A Real Life: What Childhood Once Was and Still Should Be by Dawn Poulterer Woods, ScreenStrong Ambassador In days with lots of words and opinions, I have felt highly unmotivated to post thoughts on any digital platform. But this poem came to me yesterday in a matter of 20 minutes. I write it for parents of…
A Call to Parents: The Screen Effect by Jennifer Ruisch, screenwriter & ScreenStrong Ambassador The great experiment is underway. An entire generation of kids and teens are now using screens in their free time to watch funny videos, play games and connect with friends. And now, thanks to Covid-19, they’re also being educated entirely…
How Fortnite Makes Your Son Aggressive Three reasons his “harmless game” may be making him mean. by Melanie Hempe, BSN Note: This piece was written with boys in mind, however, girls have struggles with video games too. Many parents think it’s an overreaction to believe violent video games make kids violent. We read articles…
Sleepovers: Should Parents Allow Them? Three things to consider before your kids pack that sleepover bag. By Melanie Hempe, BSN, Founder of ScreenStrong You’re probably not planning to allow your kids’ friends to introduce them to porn or graphic violence this summer. But if they’re heading elsewhere for a sleepover, that just might be…
The Video Game Addiction Test How to know if your child is developing an unhealthy dependency. Video game dependency is a serious issue. Not only does it lead to mental and physical health problems, but it can slowly replace all other important interests and activities in a child’s real life like sports, school, friendships and…
Spoiler Alert: Your Child is Not a Virtual Angel Tips on how parents can avoid blind spots when it comes to kids and screens. By Melanie Hempe, BSN, Founder of ScreenStrong For good reason, parents think the best of their children. Parents unconditionally love their kids and, while that helps our children’s development thrive, it…