Blog
Sharenting- what parents need to consider before sharing pictures of their kids
We’ve been inundated with expert opinions on young kids and adolescents using social media- when is it okay to introduce social media, how do we protect their privacy and how is it impacting on them emotionally and socially? But what many of us have failed to consider is how we as parents use social media […]
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Kids, sleep and screens- what parents need to know
Is your child’s screen-time sabotaging their sleep? Today’s kids are spending more and more time with screens and often before bed. Many of us know that this digital habit can impact both the quality and quantity of their sleep, but we often find this habit hard to change (and for some families it’s simply a matter […]
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Plugged-in parenting: are we addicted to our smartphones? (Part 2)
Why do our screens captivate us? In an earlier blog post I explained the impact of parents spending increasing amounts of time plugged into our devices. It seems that we’ve become so focused on our kids’ screen-time that we’ve completely overlooked our screen habits. After I deliver many parent seminars, parents confess that they thought […]
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Plugged-in parenting: are we addicted to our smartphones? (PART 1)
Part 1- Are we spending too much time with our devices? We closely monitor our kids’ screen-time. We fret about whether they’re spending too much time online. We worry about whether we’re introducing screens at too young an age. But have we stopped to think about our screen-time habits? Is our digital infatuation impacting our […]
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When is it okay to introduce social media to kids?
“You’re the worst Mum in the world. I’m the only person in my whole class who isn’t allowed an Instagram account. You suck! I hate you!” This is a common conversation that many parents are having with their kids. Actually, let me clarify, it’s not a conversation, it’s often a tirade of abuse from your […]
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Is it okay to use screen-time as reward?
I’m going to admit that I’m guilty of saying this from time to time, “If you get ready quickly this morning, I’ll let you watch TV.” Why do I do it? Simple, it works. And it’s quick. Rewards are often introduced to make family life easier. Kids reluctant to tidy their room? Then offer them […]
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Are screens really ‘digital heroin’?
In 2016 a New York Post blog post gained a lot of media attention. The blog post titled ‘It’s ‘digital heroin’: How screens turn kids into psychotic junkies’ suggests that screens are a form of digital drug. Panicked calls crescendoed from concerned parents and educators who read the article and panicked. In case you’ve missed […]
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Digital Resolutions
Between late December to early January 2017, I had an unexpected, yet forced, ‘digital sabbatical’. And it was delightful and scary all at once. My family and I spent a week house-sitting a stunning house at stunning Whale Beach (on the gorgeous tip of the Northern Beaches of Sydney) and then went caravaning down the […]
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Updated screen-time guidelines: What parents really need to know
The number one question that I’m asked by parents, as I travel throughout the country is, “How much screen-time is okay for kids?” It’s the million dollar question that parents of ‘screenagers’ want to know. Just how much is ‘safe’? When does too much become too much? Many parents (as well as educators and health […]
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Pornography in their pockets – young kids’ access to pornography
WARNING- Content is this blog post may distress some readers. It addresses the issue of pornography. I used to be relieved that I didn’t have to discuss the topic of ‘pornography’ in the parent seminars that I deliver. It’s a topic that many of us feel uncomfortable discussing at all. Let alone having to talk to other […]
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No tablets at the table
Screens seem to be invading our lives. Everywhere we turn, there are screens vying for our attention. And the dinner table isn’t immune to this screen invasion either. As adults, our reliance on our smartphones and gadgets has ushered us into completely new ways of parenting. We’re often quickly trying to reply to an email between […]
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Raising Your Child in a Digital World Book Launch
To see a big goal come to fruition is equal parts exciting as it is terrifying. For me, it was the sudden, very stark realisation that my ideas would be shared and may not be well-received. In the days leading up to my book launch, I oscillated between excitement and absolute fear- what if my book […]
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