This weeks’ episode is a must-listen to if your child uses technology and screens of any sort and your spending energy managing your kids’ screen time. My guest this week is Dr. Devorah Heitner, an expert on young people’s relationship with digital media and technology. Devorah is the author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World and founder of Raising Digital Natives, and her mission is to cultivate a culture of empathy and social/emotional literacy. Devorah did a fascinating TEDx talk a few years back called The Challenges of Raising a Digital Native, which I highly recommend you check out.
Today Devorah and I talk about kids’ relationship with screens, everything from the specific challenges related to screens and technology for differently wired kids to how we as parents can start being effective mentors for our child when it comes to helping them develop healthy screen habits. I asked Devorah the big questions I hear all the time from parents, like how much time spent on screens is too much, does the type of activity ours kids are doing make a difference when setting limits, and much more.
An expert on young people’s relationship with digital media and technology, Dr. Devorah Heitner is the author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World and founder of Raising Digital Natives. Her mission is to cultivate a culture of empathy and social/emotional literacy. She has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology & Society from Northwestern University and has taught at DePaul and Northwestern. She is delighted to be raising her own digital native.
Things you’ll learn from this episode
Why it’s important that we focus on tech literacy in our kids rather than specific apps
The most common challenges for differently wired kids when it comes to their relationship with technology and “managing” their screen time
How we might use their skills and interest in tech to bridge into areas of strength
The challenges stemming from schools’ increasing reliance on technology in a 1 to 1 capacity
Whether or not there is true value in online or virtual social relationships
Why our role as parents should be that of mentor when it comes to our child’s relationship with screens
The difference between tech savvy and being wise about technology
Why all screen media isn’t created equal—it’s important to discriminate between the way our kids use media
How much “screen time” is too much?
What are goals should be in helping our kids become wise technology consumers
Strategies to start using to become a positive “screen” mentor for our children
Resources mentioned for managing kids’ screen time
Raising Digital Natives (Devorah’s website)
Phonewise Boot Camp
Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World by Dr. Devorah Heitner
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TPP 128a: Digital Media and Technology Expert Devorah Heitner on Helping Kids Be Screenwise | TILT Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children podcast - Listen or read transcript on Metacast
