Do you think phones have ruined family togetherness? In today’s digital age, smartphones have become a hugely integral part of our daily lives. These devices offer convenience, connectivity, and a plethora of information at our fingertips. However, as smartphones have become more ubiquitous their impact on family interactions and relationships has come under scrutiny it’s […]
I’m pondering the problem of kids + #socialmedia As a society, we can take collective actions to encourage kids to stay off social media by fostering a culture that values real-world interactions, personal growth, and well-being. Here are some approaches: love to hear your positive suggestions 🤔 🧩Educational Programmes: Implement educational programmes in schools that […]
“In a digital world where the landscape is ever-changing, parental digital literacy isn’t just a choice; it’s a responsibility to equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills needed to guide our children safely through uncharted waters.” ~ Sue Atkins In today’s digital age, where technology permeates almost every aspect of our lives, digital literacy has […]
If you have time I highly, highly recommend watching or listening to this absolutely fascinating parliamentary evidence on screen time, digital poverty and education, with Baroness Kidron who’s career has taken her from making movies for Stephen Spielberg to groundbreaking protections for young people online Screen time and Wellbeing Speakers include: John McGee, Senior Policy […]
Changing nappies – is a quintessential part of parenthood that’s both mundane and messy. Amidst the chaos of nappy changes, it can be tempting to reach for our smartphones as a distraction or a way to multitask can’t it? But while scrolling through emails or social media might seem like a harmless way to […]
There’s a great buzz around Jonathan Haidt’s new fascinating and thought provoking book that points out the hugely important years between the ages of 9 to 15 in shaping a child’s experiences of life and how smartphones have impacted on a whole generation of children’s mental health and wellbeing and how everything changed globally around […]
Ctrl+Alt+Delay: I talk to lots of parents about all sorts of things, naturally, in my work but I’ve noticed not many parents think to use parental controls on their child’s devices. There seems to be quite a few reasons why not from: 🕹️Lack of Awareness: Some parents aren’t aware of the existence or capabilities of […]
I talk to lots of parents about all sorts of things, naturally, in my work but I’ve noticed not many parents think to use parental controls on their child’s devices. Today’s fast paced digital world means greater access to larger and larger oceans of information & it’s hard to keep up. Everyone’s reach and access […]
Giving a child a smartphone without guidance is like giving them the keys to a 4×4 without teaching them how to drive – it can lead to terrible accidents and enormous dangers on their digital journey‼️ 97% of 12 year olds now have access to a smartphone and 45% are online ”almost constantly” So the […]
After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on many measures. Why? In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness […]
97% of 12-year-olds in Britain have a smartphone ‼️📱 You may have seen or heard the campaign that’s gone viral (in a good way‼️) by Daisy Greenwell who shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, outlining her worries about the expectation that children in year 5 and 6 at Primary School will be given smartphones, mostly […]
The Phubbing Epidemic I learnt a new word this morning‼️ The word “phubber” is used to describe a person who pays too much attention to their smartphone! Phubbing, a contraction of the words “phone snubbing,” is the act of ignoring a person you’re with in favour of using your mobile phone! Who knew? 🤷♀️ Are […]
One of the most common questions I get asked regularly on my Sue Atkins Parenting Show podcast is: ‘ How do I get them off screens?’ Here are my simple 5 top tips. No screens at least 1 hour before bedtime. Have device-free dinners. Browse the internet together. Plan for fun non-screen activities. Encourage […]
Esther Ghey, the mother of the murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey is campaigning for social media apps to be blocked on smartphones for under-16s and stronger parental controls to flag potentially harmful searches to parents, in the wake of the sentencing of her daughter’s killers. A group of parents are campaigning on Whatsapp for a […]
I get asked a great deal about what to do or say when the kids moan ‘I’m bored’ & I always suggest making a ‘I’m Bored Jar’ With busy weekends, summer holidays, working from home & hybrid working – it’s is the perfect time to put together yours and they are simple, quick […]
