Pixel Parenting

Have you ever wondered what happens when a child starts talking to an AI like it's a friend? In this episode I sit down with Dr. Mathilde Cerioli, a cognitive neuroscientist and Chief Scientific Officer at the nonprofit everyone.ai , to unpack what AI companions actually are, what they do to a child's developing brain, and why preteens and teens are especially drawn to them. Mathilde explains why...

What actually happens in your child's brain when they hand an assignment to AI — and is it really as harmless as it seems? Patricia Cangas sits down with Missy Widmann — doctor of education, co-founder of Neural Education, and visiting assistant professor at Pacific Lutheran University. A former health and fitness teacher of 26 years, Missy found that movement isn't just good for the body; it fund...

How many hours a week are you mentally running through the family calendar, and what could you do with that time instead? Patricia Cangas sits down with Amy Briggs, founder and CEO of Aviva and a licensed speech-language pathologist, to dig into something every parent feels but rarely names: the invisible weight of managing family life through an inbox. Amy's clinical work with thousands of famili...

Do you know how to tell if an AI tool has proper safeguards for kids? I welcome Vivian Chong, co-founder and CEO of apgard.ai, a youth AI safety startup working to make AI tools safer for children. Vivian and her team build evaluation and monitoring systems that detect harmful content in AI companions and educational technology before it reaches kids. Their work started with a UNICEF-affiliated gr...

What would a machine be able to really be a friend? This episode is a kids' philosophy conversation with Dr. Iris Oved (Paradox Lab) about friendship, robots, and anthropomorphism, the way our brains read emotion and intention into things that don't have them. Kids ages 7-10 meet Siri, Pebble AI, and a robot dog. Then they think out loud about what makes a friend real. I host a unique episode of P...

When was the last time you explained to grandparents why broadcasting your kids' photos to their friends is risky? Patricia Cangas talks with cybersecurity professionals Kae David and Chad Rychlewski, co-authors of Cyber Smart Parenting. Kae works with tech enterprises and has over 10 years in cybersecurity, while Chad has spent 16 years protecting public sector institutions including K-20 schools...

Which parental mediation strategy does research say works best—and why? Patricia Cangas sits down with Kaitlin Tiches, a research librarian at Boston Children's Hospital and the Digital Wellness Lab, who translates the latest media research into practical guidance for families. Kaitlin unpacks parental mediation strategies—from active conversations to co-viewing and boundary-setting—and tackles re...

Could reframing one conversation turn your teen from defensive to collaborative about screen time? Host Patricia Cangas talks with Dino Ambrosi, founder of Project Reboot, who turned his college struggle with phone addiction into a program now reaching over 50,000 students. Dino walks through surprising data showing 70% of teens at top schools self-identify as addicted to their phones, why banning...

What do Minecraft, D&D, and Fortnite actually teach your child's developing brain? Dr. Kelli Dunlap, a licensed clinical psychologist with a master's in game design and executive director of Take This, joins us to explore video games as tools for learning and development. Dr. Dunlap explains why humans play, what games teach children at different ages, and how parents can distinguish healthy g...

"Parents can be worried about all the other million things that we're worried about for our kids. But violent video games in and of themselves should not be at the top of that list."   - Dr. Rachel Kowert     Host Patricia Cangas sits down with Dr. Rachel Kowert, a psychologist and game researcher whose work has appeared in The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Dr. Kowert founded the Psychge...

Episode Summary Pediatric speech-language pathologist Denise Santos Ford, M.S., CCC-SLP joins Pixel Parenting to demystify what SLPs actually do (far beyond “fixing R’s”), how screen time intersects with social-emotional and language development, and practical, evidence-aligned ways parents can use tech—together with their kids—to spark more words. We also talk AAC devices, video-modeling, telehea...

In this episode of Pixel Parenting , I talk with  Julianna Lorenzen , co-founder of Healthy Screen Habits , about how screens shape kids’ brains, and what we can do about it. Julianna has a background in sports medicine and is also a mom of four. She shares how her medical expertise and parenting journey led her to co-found a nonprofit that helps families navigate tech use with science, compassion...

In this conversation, Dr. Celeste Sangiorgio discusses the intersection of video games and mental health, exploring how gaming can be utilized as a therapeutic tool. She shares insights on designing games that address mental health challenges, the importance of narrative in engaging players, and how games can influence identity development and empathy. The discussion also touches on parenting styl...

In this conversation, Allie shares her journey through the world of gaming, discussing her educational background in game design and neuroscience, the impact of video games on her life, and how they have helped her manage ADHD. She emphasizes the importance of parental guidance in navigating online gaming safety and the role of trust in the parent-child relationship. Allie also highlights the pote...

In Part 2 of our special series with Dr. Nick Ballou, postdoctoral researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute, we dive into what research actually says about the effects of video games on mental health. Drawing from his newly published review paper, Dr. Ballou walks us through 13 potential ways gaming can influence well-being—from emotional regulation and social connection to displacement. We als...

In this first part of a two-part series, I sit down with Dr. Nick Ballou, a postdoctoral researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute, to pull back the curtain on how video game research is actually done. You’ve seen the headlines—video games are either harming or helping our kids—but what’s the truth behind those claims? Dr. Ballou explains the difference between self-reported survey data and beha...

In this episode of Pixel Parenting , we dive into the critical early years of child development with Rebecca Walsh, founder of Early Childhood Matters . Rebecca shares how the first five years shape a child’s brain, why presence and connection are more powerful than we think, and how even small habits—like looking up from our phones—can make a big difference. We talk about what “serve and return”...

  In this episode I’m excited to welcome Abby Vollmer—a legal and policy expert in the tech industry with a wealth of experience from GitHub, Strava, and now Cloudflare. In our conversation, Abby dives into her work at the intersection of technology, law, and child safety, exploring how tech policies shape everything from data management to community guidelines that protect our kids online. We dis...

In this episode we explore the evolving role of AI in education through the eyes of Valentin, a tech-savvy seventh grader. Valentin recounts his early encounters with AI - starting with tools like DALL-E and ChatGPT - and how he now uses these technologies to overcome challenges such as dyslexia and ADHD. He explains how AI aids him in homework, streamlines group projects, and even sparks creative...

In Part 2, I focus on practical strategies for introducing and managing video games at home. I explain how creating a simple gaming contract and using parental controls can help set clear, balanced schedules for play, homework, and other activities. I also highlight the benefits of co-playing—showing that setting limits is important for both kids and adults—and break down how dopamine works in the...

In this episode of Pixel Parenting , I kick off a special two-part series on introducing video games to children. In Part One, I share when it’s the right time to start gaming—covering age guidelines and developmental milestones, from avoiding screens for infants to using simple, educational games for preschoolers, and gradually increasing playtime as children grow older. I also discuss the import...

In this episode of Pixel Parenting , I take you on a dive into the unexpected power of boredom for toddlers. I share how those seemingly idle moments can be transformed into golden opportunities for sparking creativity, building emotional resilience, and nurturing independence in our little ones. Here’s what I cover in this episode: • The Psychology of Boredom: I explain why boredom isn’t just a v...

Are all “educational” apps created equal? In this episode, we dive into the world of apps designed for kids, exploring how to separate the genuinely educational from the flashy distractions. With over 80,000 apps labeled “educational,” how can parents make informed choices? Tune in as we discuss tips, tools, and research to guide you through the digital maze. Perfect for parents, educators, and an...

Join Patricia and Sarah, an AI, on a discussion into the fascinating and complex world of gaming habits. This episode explores the science behind gaming disorder, the criteria used for diagnosis, and how to recognize the signs of excessive gaming. Through relatable anecdotes and insightful discussions, you'll gain a better understanding of when gaming becomes more than just a hobby. Perfect for ga...

Here’s a fun little song made by AI to brighten your day. No deep parenting insights here—just some lighthearted, tech-inspired fun for your day! Using Brev.ai’s Royalty Free Music Generator.