According to a Gallup Poll, 70% of teens check their phone several times an hour. We know that is true for many adults too. Constant notifications from social sites, texts and more play a big part in this compulsion.
Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps for kids and according to Business Insider:
"A Snapchat insider tells us that the most active Snapchat users get hundreds' of Snaps per day. When asked for a more refined number, the insider suggested that '150 might be a good approximation.' The average active Snapchat user, meanwhile, the insider estimates, gets 20-50 Snaps per day. The average active user (teenagers), the insider says, now gets more "Snaps" than texts."
So, if your child gets the average number of Snaps per day, that's a lot of interruptions and distractions. My husband and 17-year-old son went on a 5 day trip together in April and my husband asked our son to remove notifications on his phone for the trip. Then, just yesterday my son and I were talking about notifications and it turns out he never turned them back on since that trip in April. He said it has made a difference in how often he checks his phone.
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Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
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According to a Gallup Poll, 70% of teens check their phone several times an hour. We know that is true for many adults too. Constant notifications from social sites, texts and more play a big part in this compulsion.
Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps for kids and according to Business Insider:
"A Snapchat insider tells us that the most active Snapchat users get hundreds' of Snaps per day. When asked for a more refined number, the insider suggested that '150 might be a good approximation.' The average active Snapchat user, meanwhile, the insider estimates, gets 20-50 Snaps per day. The average active user (teenagers), the insider says, now gets more "Snaps" than texts."
So, if your child gets the average number of Snaps per day, that's a lot of interruptions and distractions. My husband and 17-year-old son went on a 5 day trip together in April and my husband asked our son to remove notifications on his phone for the trip. Then, just yesterday my son and I were talking about notifications and it turns out he never turned them back on since that trip in April. He said it has made a difference in how often he checks his phone.
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According to a Gallup Poll, 70% of teens check their phone several times an hour. We know that is true for many adults too. Constant notifications from social sites, texts and more play a big part in this compulsion.
Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps for kids and according to Business Insider:
"A Snapchat insider tells us that the most active Snapchat users get hundreds' of Snaps per day. When asked for a more refined number, the insider suggested that '150 might be a good approximation.' The average active Snapchat user, meanwhile, the insider estimates, gets 20-50 Snaps per day. The average active user (teenagers), the insider says, now gets more "Snaps" than texts."
So, if your child gets the average number of Snaps per day, that's a lot of interruptions and distractions. My husband and 17-year-old son went on a 5 day trip together in April and my husband asked our son to remove notifications on his phone for the trip. Then, just yesterday my son and I were talking about notifications and it turns out he never turned them back on since that trip in April. He said it has made a difference in how often he checks his phone.
Kids with ADHD benefit most when parents provide support at the exact moment behavior happens, a science-backed approach called "point of performance." Abruptly shifting from high-stimulation screen time to demanding tasks creates a "dopamine cliff," a brain chemistry drop that often shows up as resistance and conflict. Understanding both concepts helps parents smooth those transitions and build real skills and confidence in their kids over time.
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A new Louis Theroux documentary on Netflix exposes the growing network of online influencers pushing sexism, misogyny, and a narrow vision of masculinity on boys and young men. Combined with last year's hit series Adolescence, it is a wake-up call for parents. The good news: there is a lot we can do. This week, I round up our most relevant blogs and podcast episodes from recent months, covering everything from the "interrupter" technique to boys' mental health, phones in schools, online sports betting, pornography, and the manosphere's exploitation of boys' loneliness. The research is clear that parents who show up with curiosity, honesty, and consistency have more influence than they realize.
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When kids struggle with big emotions, many parents reach for a screen to keep the peace — but this can get in the way of children developing real coping skills. Drawing on research from Dr. Jenny Radesky, this post shares two practical strategies: using the Zones of Regulation color system to help kids name and process their feelings, and doing a toy swap with another parent to build your "vulnerable village" of support. Both approaches turn difficult screen-time moments into opportunities for emotional growth.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
