Do you feel overwhelmed navigating screens, gaming, and tech in your home? You’re not alone. In this episode, we explore how to shift from blame to curiosity when it comes to your child’s digital life. Ash Brandin, a middle school teacher and the voice behind The Gamer Educator, joins us to talk about the real reasons kids love screens—and how we can use those insights to build stronger connections and more balanced relationships with technology.

We discuss the root causes behind tech reliance, how to help kids develop digital literacy, and why empathy and structure matter more than screen limits alone. Tune in for a refreshing, realistic take on managing tech in a way that benefits the whole family.

Resources:

• Follow Ash Brandin on Instagram: @thegamereducator
• Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing!
• Check out Julie’s new author website: juliebogartwriter.com
• Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters: Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic
• Try out our Brave Writer Practice Pages
• Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
• Read all Brave Writer class descriptions
• Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
• Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
• Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684

Connect with Julie:

• Instagram: @juliebravewriter
• Threads: @juliebravewriter
• Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

• Website: melissawiley.com
• Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
• Instagram: @melissawileybooks
• Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social

Produced by NOVA