Connected & Courageous: The Art and Science of Showing Up For Kids in the Digital Age

What if the key to navigating teens and technology isn’t in having all the answers but in asking the right questions? In this season finale of Connected & Courageous: Tech & Teens, host Erin unpacks the biggest takeaways from this mini-series. From cyberbullying to online creativity, what are the consistent threads that experts keep pointing to? Tune in for a reflection on the guideposts t...

Parents often ask whether or not gifting technology is the “right thing to do.” But instead of asking questions about “right or wrong” or “good or bad,” research indicates that the  when, why, what, and with whom  of technology is just as important as the mere presence or absence of a new device or game. In this episode, Erin reads an article that explores: Pausing to reflect on the...

Research on the “average teen” doesn’t always capture the complex realities of our own kids. This is certainly true when it comes to the often-misunderstood tech practices of teens with autism. As you will hear in this episode, Dr. Meryl Alper of Northeastern University imagines a future that centers the worldviews, needs, and desires of neurodivergent and disabled youth. Erin talks to Dr. Meryl A...

Few of us experience technology transitions with ease and joy one hundred percent of the time. Handing over a device or wrapping up a gaming session can ignite a range of feelings for young people. This, in turn, can ignite a range of feelings in the adults around them. It doesn’t always go well. In this episode, Erin reads an article that explores: What is going on inside kids during screen time...

While there are certainly “online only” threats, tech also tends to mirror and magnify offline dynamics we shouldn’t ignore - including racial discrimination. In this episode, researcher and professor Dr. Henry Willis of the University of Maryland shares insights on how online and offline experiences of racism are connected and highlights both the resilience of Black youth and the unique challenge...

Social media and constant news updates can overwhelm our nervous systems, yet our brains are wired to seek out information during uncertain times. These times demand our engagement. So how do we ensure that our digital habits allow us to do so thoughtfully and without sacrificing our mental health? In this episode, Erin reads an article that explores: Why we need to watch out for "reassurance-seek...

Everyone has a strong opinion when it comes to when kids should get their first device. But what does the science say? In this episode, Erin reads an article that explores: What the data does and doesn’t tell us about first phones. Why identifying a specific age often loses the point. A compelling framework to help you decide how and when to introduce personal tech. Follow us on Instagram @Sparkan...

If there is one topic that we adults tend to both AVOID talking about and are in desperate need of information and support around - it’s internet porn. Yet teens rely on us to get these conversations started. That’s why it is so helpful that we have people like Dr. Megan Maas to hold our hands. As she reminds us in this episode: “In our media saturated world we no longer have the luxury of silence...

What is real self-esteem? And can we build kids up on the same treadmill of feedback that brought them down? In this episode, Erin reads an article that explores: Three myths of the modern self-esteem movement The quicksands of social comparison and self-esteem online How to help kids build real self-esteem Follow us on Instagram @SparkandStitch , on Facebook @SparkandStitchInstitute , and LinkedI...

When it comes to body image and the media, the focus has long been on girls. Yet a recent study found that hospitalizations for boys with eating disorders has risen by 400% in the last two decades. Our guest today, Dr. Jason Nagata of University of California San Francisco, dives into the hidden impacts of eating disorders across all genders, cultures, and identities. Most importantly, he shares w...

There are renewed calls to delay social media as long as possible. What do we know about what teens need from adults as their digital worlds expand? In this episode, Erin reads an article that explores: Whether there is a case to delay social media Why middle school is a window of sensitivity and a window of opportunity What all middle schoolers need regardless of when they get their first account...

We talk a lot ABOUT tech and teens, but what do young people have to say about their digital experiences? How can their insights shape solutions? In this episode, “critical optimist” and researcher Dr. Emily Weinstein from the Center for Digital Thriving at Harvard Graduate School of Education explores the power of curious questions and shares actionable ways to team up with teens for a healthier...

It’s easy to assume that Friendships + Phones = Inevitable decline in relationship quality. But is that always the case? In this episode, Erin reads an article that explores: What the research says about technoference and “social digital multitasking” Why digital design can make it hard to prioritize the friendships in front of us Digital age relationship skills that all of us need to practice The...

Whether experienced online, offline, or both - cyberbullying, cruelty, and exclusion are deeply painful experiences. We want to do everything in our power to protect kids in these moments. But what does your teen actually need from you? Dr. Elizabeth Englander, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center, offers the grounded advice you need to support your teen through thes...

Attention is one of our most precious resources - how do we use it wisely in a world of digital distractions? In this episode, Erin reads an article that explores: Why it is so hard to focus in a sea of digital distractions. How our brain pays attention Practical strategies to focus on what matters most. Follow us on Instagram @SparkandStitch , on Facebook @SparkandStitchInstitute , and LinkedIn @...

The relationship between technology use and adolescent well-being is indeed... complicated. But this episode is for you if you are suffering from complexity fatigue. Dr. Katie Davis, Director of the University of Washington Digital Youth Lab, delivers compelling guidance that cuts through the noise without compromising the research. This is no small feat! Erin talks to Dr. Katie Davis about: A gui...

In this first expert interview of our mini-series on teens and tech, we are jumping right into the issue that is on everyone’s mind: social media and adolescent wellbeing. If you want rigid rules and prescriptive guidelines, this may not be the episode for you. But if you are hoping for thoughtful and evidence-based insights, Dr. Linda Charmaraman from the Youth, Media, and Wellbeing Research Lab...

In this first episode of “Erin Reads”, Erin sets important context for this mini-series by inviting us to hold three truths about tech and teens at the same time: We don’t have to wait for scientific proof of universal harm to teens to create a safer and healthier internet. We do need to take into account the complexity of young people's relationship to tech to craft good policy and better support...

Welcome to Connected & Courageous: The Art and Science of Showing Up for Kids in the Digital Age, a new podcast from Spark & Stitch Institute. If there is a time to step meaningfully into the digital lives of kids, this is it. But how? Season 1 launches with a limited series on tech and teens. Get expert interviews, answers to your most urgent questions, and practical strategies for priori...