We need to aim our rage at toxic technology, institutional misogyny, and parental influence.

Like many of you, I’m feeling a lot of overwhelming, long-time-coming, recently-unearthed rage.

In the wake of the Cornell 7 allegations, I started to recall some of the misogynistic nonsense I tolerated in high school, college, and my professional career.

I thought of the high school teacher who asked me to sit on his lap in front of the whole class.

I thought of walking through a dark section of my college campus, laughingly dubbed “rape trail,” as I passed the SAE fraternity, nonchalantly nicknamed “Sexual Assault Expected.”

I thought of the fraternity men who injected a platter of fruit with syringes of Everclear…

Read More

I know that you want to make it a magical and memorable Christmas or Hanukkah. But please, do yourself and your child a favor: do not buy them a smartphone as a gift. (And please tell Santa to hold off as well.)

Reasons include: increased suicide risk, exposure to pornography, decreased attention, health problems, and more!

Tune in each day from now until Christmas for 50 reasons to delay buying your child a phone.

Read More

Entertain kids in the car, on an airplane, during church, on a zoom call, at a restaurant, while you’re trying to shower…

Put these screen-free gifts on your list and be the best birthday, Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah superstar ever!

Read More
guilt free tv shows for kids

In our house, I try to be very low-screen…But that does not mean completely screen free.

As I have said before, not all screens are created equal. There’s a HUGE and important difference between letting your child play Fortnite, and letting them watch Bluey.

Similarly, letting your kids play Roblox may actually scar them forever (between pornographic “Easter eggs” hidden in games and the opportunity to chat with predators,) but letting your kids watch some cartoons on Friday afternoon isn’t going to do any harm.

So in the spirit of “I just need 20 minutes,” here is a curated list of low-stimulation, slow shows that will entertain kids, occasionally educate them, and keep you from feeling guilty!

Read More
Don't let digital wellness go down the drain.

At one point, one of my sons had watched cartoons for far too long. Eventually, he came off the couch complaining that his eyes were burning and that he wanted to get up.

He told me “Mommy, I wanted to stop watching cartoons a long time ago, but my brain kept saying just one more!”

There is something almost comical about hearing a little kid describe it so plainly. But adults know exactly what he meant.

We’ve all experienced the feeling of continuing to scroll, watch, shop, play, or click long after our bodies have started telling us we’d rather be doing something else.

And that made me realize that digital wellness isn’t only about external rules like, “You get 30 minutes.” It’s also about teaching a child to read their own signals.

Read More

There is something almost poetic about it.

We are posting about screen addiction. We are doomscrolling articles about doomscrolling. We are scheduling family phone-free dinners and then checking our email on the way to the table.

And our kids, who are watching us with the relentless attention of people who are still figuring out how the world works, are remembering all of it….

Read More

How Do I Get My Kids Off Screens Without A Fight?

This my friends, is the sixty-four million dollar question. And despite writing about this subject for two years, and interviewing screentime experts for another year…I had yet to hear anyone give a truly actionable answer.

Many experts suggest going cold turkey. Some therapists and teachers suggest moderation. But nobody had ever told me how to successfully redirect my elementary-aged children away from Minecraft and Mr. Beast without all hell breaking loose.

Until now. (Imagine angels singing as the heavens open up.)

Read More

You’re making dinner. One kid is yelling. Another kid is crying. Your partner just busted through the door from a long day at work. And suddenly….you’re done. Like, really done. Ready to go “Gone Girl” and never return again.

Yep, been there.

And the best solution is almost always nature. But how do we get more nature in our lives, and the lives of our children when we’re constantly surrounded by screens, full schedules, and cement?

Read on to learn EASY ways to get your family more dirt, danger, and dandelions.

Read More

Does your child hate to read?
Do they get frustrated at large chunks of text?
Do they need help understanding which character is speaking?

Look no further!

We know all of the graphic novels and dyslexia friendly books that make kids LOVE to read!

Read More

From online oversharing, to gaming chats and school apps, today’s children are building a digital footprint from the day they’re born.

We uncover the biggest cybersecurity mistakes parents make—and how to fix them.
How do online scams target kids?
Why should you stop clicking on sponsored links?
Why is Google a problematic search engine?
How much damage is done when you post photos of your kids on social media?

Whether your child is in preschool or heading off to college, this post is packed with actionable strategies every parent needs.

Read More