Screen Less Play More

"Think what we want the future worker to have. Think what employers tell us all the time. We want them to be able to have it take initiative. We want them to be able to cooperate and collaborate with others. We want them to be good problem solvers. We want them to have good communication skills. All that stuff you learn during play."  - Deb Lawrence of the International Play Association USA.     L...

" The number of places that I found kids doing drug deals over Snapchat, for example, nine to one. It  didn't start with a conversation and notes being passed in English class, it started over a social media platform. And so I talk about like the dangers of social media that you don't know as a parent walking in with an 11 year old are alarming, honestly.  But I feel like somebody needs to tell yo...

Why are kids addicted to screens? Why are kids addicted to social media and video games? Dr. Richard Freed gives us the answers, and explains step-by-step how tech companys design their apps and games to keep us on as long as possible. Silicon Valley has been methodically implementing a secret science called "persuasive design." They have figured out how to prey upon our deeply-ingrained fears, de...

Gilbert's viral Substack article caught Jonathan Haidt's attention. Haidt said on his own "After Babel" Substack, "Today, we're sharing one of the most compelling and entertaining essays we've read on what happens when a school goes phone-free. The essay is written by Gilbert Schuerch, a veteran high school teacher in Harlem, NYC. He is also the writer of the Substack, Fit To Teach , where he shar...

"In all my years of doing this since 2016, I have never worked with a single family that  eliminated screens or significantly decreased screens and went on to regret it. Every single one of them saw a brand new child who slept better, ate better, conversed better, socialized better, did better at school," says executive function specialist, Michael McLeod, of Grow Now ADHD.  In this episode of "Sc...

"Somewhere along the way, kids' sports stopped being for kids" says author and podcast guest Linda Flanagan. "Hold on, you might think. I want my kids in the game because exercise and team sports deliver virtues and advantages; they build character, promote well-being, and foster social connection'....but...Thanks to the extravagant investments in kids' sports, parents' Olympian commitment to thei...

"No social media app, no matter how high-minded their philosophies are, they're not there to change the world and make it better. They're there to generate enough income to keep being a business."  - Sarah Gallagher Trombley Former Snapchat executive and digital parenting expert Sarah Gallagher Trombley gives a fascinating interview to Cynthia Dvorak on The Screen Less Play More Podcast. This is y...

How do I navigate online scams? How can I tell if it's a deepfake? How can I use AI responsibly? How should we use artificial intelligence in the classroom? Media literacy is needed now more than ever!  Donnell Probst has our answers. Donnell is the interim director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education. Welcome to the Screen Less Play More Podcast with Cynthia Dvorak! Discover...

Andrea Davis has the questions you need to ask your child and yourself before giving them a smart phone or device!  Have I talked to my teen about digital predators, sexting, pornography, nudes, deepfakes, gaming addiction, bullying, body image, phishing,  self harm , online privacy, or artificial intelligence?  (And more!) We also discuss ideas for making a successful summer with or without tech,...

Play is absolutely essential to the successful development of each and every child. Listen to find out what kids are learning while they play that they can't get anywhere else!    Welcome to the Screen Less Play More Podcast with Cynthia Dvorak! Discover the benefits of less screen time for children and practical strategies to reduce screen use as a family. Learn about guidelines, the role of a sc...

If you are trying to decide when to give your child a phone - listen to this first! In this powerful episode of Screen Less Play More , host Cynthia Dvorak talks with Tessa Stuckey; therapist, author, and Look Up nonprofit founder   about the growing mental health crisis facing kids and teens in the digital age. Tessa shares what shocked her as a counselor: more and more children, even as young as...

Are phones and apps replacing the awkward moments kids actually need? In this episode, psychologist Ty Tashiro joins Screen Less Play More to explore how technology, social media, and online dating are reshaping social skills, emotional intelligence, and relationships.  This isn't just a problem for kids, teens, and young adults, it affects parents as well. From everyday social awkwardness to the...

"What's the best way for students to prep for the SAT?" Kaplan? Princeton Review? Khan Academy? Where do I start? This episode should not be missed if you have a child in middle school or high school. Charlotte Winters has been an SAT tutor for 15 years, and teaches us that SAT prep isn't as difficult or complicated as we think it is.  Our talk explores the differences between the SAT and ACT, and...

How do you raise confident, creative, independent kids in a world built to keep them glued to screens? In this fun episode of  Screen Less Play More , Cynthia Dvorak talks with Erin Loechner, author of The Opt-Out Family , about how parents can reduce screen time, delay smartphones, resist social media pressure, and create a home that is more engaging than the algorithm. Erin shares what she learn...

In this first episode of Screen Less Play More, host Cynthia Dvorak interviews Kat Zilka of Dis/Connect to tackle a growing concern: the digital crisis children face today. We break down: The impacts of excessive screen time on kids' mental health, attention, and social development. Why smartphones, social media and gaming can be addictive — and what "screen addiction" really looks like. Practical...