Dopamine is part of an ancient neural pathway that ensures human survival. It is also part of the reason it is so hard to stop playing a video game or pass up a piece of cake! Anti-Dopamine Parenting! Breaking the Dopamine Cycle: A New Approach to Parenting in a Digital Age In today’s […]
Remember slot machines? They were designed to answer your every action with a visual, auditory, tactile feedback buzz. A ping when you inserted a coin. A ka-chunk when you pulled the lever. A flash of coloured lights when you released it. The initial engagement with a slot machine begins with the simple act of inserting […]
Smartphone Free Childhood Suicides. Self-harm. Depression and anxiety. The toll of a social media-addicted, phone-based childhood has never been more stark. It can be easy for teens, parents, and schools to feel like they’re trapped by it all. But in this conversation with Tristan Harris, author and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt author of ‘The Anxious […]
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 […]
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 […]
“It’s not a drug, but it may as well be”: Expert opinions on whether kids are addicted to tech. Most people associate the word “addiction” with problems like gambling, alcoholism or drug abuse. But look at a child bent intently over the electric-blue glow of a smartphone, and it’s hard not to wonder whether we […]
Tonight on our Parenting Round Up we discuss: Ant McPartlin ‘drink drive’ crash. Will.i.am blames ‘pill pushing parents’ of kids with ADHD for killing creativity. Grammy award winning artist will.i.am is blaming ‘pill pushing’ parents of children with ADHD for “destroying potential”. The Voice judge and pop star suffered from the disorder as a child, […]
I work with lots of parents at the end of their tether about their teenagers use of technology. But what about pausing to ponder our own use? I have to watch my use of Twitter and my constant checking of my iPhone for Instagram, Face Book, LinkedIn updates. If you can’t stop checking, clicking, surfing […]
Here’s an interesting article in the Bangalore Mirror about screens, mental health and your child’s wellbeing. Unplug your kids from being a screen addict before it affects their mental health. Everyone seems happy. The digital intervention seems to be an easy distraction for the kids and a relief for the parents. But one needs […]
I found this really interesting infograph on my Scoop feed today that I thought you’d find interesting today too.
I’ve just discovered Eric Pickersgill take a look at his extraordinarily powerful message – simply shown through his black and white photos of the impact of smartphones on our relationships, experiences and missed moments of being present #PauseToPonder http://www.ericpickersgill.com What can you do just for today to be fully present in the moment ? What […]
I’ve been working with a client whose father was an alcoholic and I read with great interest this article printed in The Good Men Project. “Our self-esteem is exceptionally low. Our addicted parents were unable to provide the love and nurturing we required to form secure attachment.” There are many adults among us—many of […]
I was fascinated to read that when Steve Jobs was running Apple, he was known to call journalists to either pat them on the back for a recent article or, more often than not, explain how they got it wrong. Nick Bilton was on the receiving end of a few of those calls. Here’ s […]
How would your kids feel if you decided to do a Digital Detox Week ? With the news that toddlers are becoming obsessed with gadgets, I’m asking – do we need to really limit our child’s tech play time: Read more at UKMumstv
A Practical Guide
A calm, practical starter guide from Sue Atkins to help you handle smartphones, social media, gaming, sleep and online pressure — without rows or panic.
Download the free scripts and tips here.
