Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Frustrated with his obsession with video gaming, Cam Adair wrote a post about his struggles that went viral. This led to his starting a movement that has brought together thousands to work to create a balanced life at Gamequitters.com. Cam is an international speaker who shares his story about gaming addiction and offers well tested advice to youth and their parents.   Expert: Cam Adair   Episode Resources: Game Quitters Game Quitters Parent Support Group Afterschool Alliance    Additional Resources: How to bring the Screenagers movies to your community Screenagers Website   Time Code: 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Meet Cam Adair: From Gamer to Advocate 01:57 Cam's Personal Struggles with Gaming 06:42 Turning Point: Seeking Help and Recovery 09:48 Founding Game Quitters 11:11 Impact of COVID on Gaming Habits 13:37 Advice for Parents and Kids 22:15 Final Thoughts and Resources

Dr Ruston speaks with Amy Neville, mother of Alexander Neville who tragically died at age 14 after taking a fentanyl-laced pill he obtained through Snapchat. He thought he was buying an oxycontin but instead the pill was a pill laced with fentanyl.  Amy shares her journey from grief to activism, discussing her efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of social media-facilitated drug deals and her advocacy for stronger accountability from tech companies.  This episode offers insights into the vulnerabilities of teens in the digital world, the current drug crisis, and practical advice for parents on navigating these challenges with their children.   Episode Resources: Alexander Neville Foundation   Additional Resources: How to bring the Screenagers movies to your community Screenagers Website   Time Code: 00:00 Introduction 00:23 The Tragic Story of Alexander Neville 01:30 Alex's Final Days 05:00 Turning Grief into Activism 06:46 Conversations with Teens 10:05 The Role of Snapchat 18:34 Advice for Parents 21:55 Resources and Conclusion

Many parents feel hypocritical or guilty about their own phone or tech use when their kids or teens are around.  In this episode, Dr. Ruston checks in with three parents who shared those feelings and took on the One Small Change Challenge to make a change in their own tech use. Hear from them about their successes and challenges during their two-week experiment.  Even for listeners who missed the previous two episodes, this installment stands alone and offers insights on how adults can model for their children the reasons and approaches behind making positive changes to their tech time.   Additional Resources Boosting Bravery: Free Screenagers program for teens that includes DARTS.  How to bring the Screenagers movies to your community Screenagers Website   Time Code: 00:00 Introduction 00:19 Recap of Previous Episodes and DARTS Framework 01:59 Hillary's Journey: Breaking the Social Media Habit 10:41 Lisa's Challenge: Keeping the Phone Out of the Bedroom 15:35 Tori's Attempt: Creating Phone-Free Time with Her Daughter 25:00 Conclusion and Resources for Screen Time Management  

In our last episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston introduced the One Small Change Challenge and the DARTS model (Doable, Arrange for success, Reasons, Treats, Support) as she coached two moms on creating strategies to reach their phone-related small change targets. This week, she talks with another mom, a certified parent coach who wants to stop using her phone before bed and keep it in her room overnight. You'll hear the specific strategies Lisa commits to. In the next episode, you'll find out how it worked out for her and for the other moms from the previous episode. Listeners are encouraged to take on their own One Small Change Challenge and let their kids in on what they're aiming to do and the strategies they're using, and, most importantly, to ask their kids for support. Change is not easy. If you're participating in the challenge, email Dr. Ruston at [email protected] and let her know how it's going.     Additional Resources Boosting Bravery: Free Screenagers program for teens that includes DARTS.  How to bring the Screenagers movies to your community Screenagers Website   Time Code 00:00 Introduction to Parenting in the Screen Age 00:21 Recap of the One Small Change Challenge 00:39 Introducing Lisa and Her Phone Habit 01:59 Lisa's Struggle with Phone Use at Night 06:38 Implementing the DARTS Method 07:59 Setting Goals and Arranging for Success 11:39 Reinforcement and Support Strategies 17:56 Conclusion and Next Steps  

Do you ever catch yourself reaching for your phone when you don't really need or want to, and wonder what that shows your kids? In this episode, Screenagers creator Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with two moms who decide it's time to make a change. They talk about the habits they want to shift and take on the One Small Change Challenge using a model called DARTS: Doable, Arrange for success, Reasons, Treats, and Support. Follow along as Delaney walks Tory and Hillary through setting their own goals, and try using this model to set yours too. We'd love to hear if you do, so send a note to [email protected]. It's an honest look at what happens when parents face their own phone habits and try something new. In a future episode, we'll check in to see how their challenges went.   Additional Resources Bring Screenagers to your community Screenagers Website   Time Code 00:00 Introduction 01:25 The One Small Change Challenge 01:43 Introducing the DARTS Model 03:22 Meet Hillary: A Parent's Struggle with Phone Use 09:31 Setting Goals and Creating an Action Plan 16:58 Finding Support and Accountability 17:55 Engaging Family in the Journey 18:14 The Importance of Parental Vulnerability 21:07 Planning the Challenge 22:23 Tory's Struggle with Phone Use 26:24 Setting Goals with the DARTS Model 32:02 Creating a Support System 32:31 Conclusion and Call to Action