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 that matter most when the digital landscape feels overwhelming. Plus, Erin shares a powerful invitation: one simple step you can take today to connect with the young people in your life. Don’t miss this wrap-up!

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 purpose of tech gifts.
• Essential questions to ask about tech gifts before buying them.
• How to wrap up your tech gifts with intention and care.

Follow us on Instagram @SparkandStitch, on Facebook @SparkandStitchInstitute, and LinkedIn @erin-walsh-spark-and-stitch.

Resources discussed in this episode can be found here: sparkandstitchinstitute.com/podcast

Connected & Courageous is a podcast of Spark & Stitch Institute with production support from Beth K. Gibbs at Lift Podcasting.

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 Alper about:

• Why constant coverage of risks ignores the unique benefits that tech can offer autistic youth
• Are all youth with autism really “good” at tech? And other harmful tropes to watch out for.
• How neurodivergent teens are navigating their identities on TikTok
• Specific considerations for parents and educators to keep in mind related to online safety and thriving for neurodivergent kids.

Featured Expert:

Dr. Meryl Alper - https://merylalper.com/

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 transitions.
• Practical strategies for avoiding power struggles and building skills.

Follow us on Instagram @SparkandStitch, on Facebook @SparkandStitchInstitute, and LinkedIn @erin-walsh-spark-and-stitch.

Resources discussed in this episode can be found here: sparkandstitchinstitute.com/podcast

Connected & Courageous is a podcast of Spark & Stitch Institute with production support from Beth K. Gibbs at Lift Podcasting.

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 challenges they face in the digital age.

Erin talks to Dr. Henry Willis about:

• The relationship between online and offline racial discrimination and mental health outcomes for youth
• Why resilience is as important to talk about as risk - especially when it comes to Black youth
• Why he isn’t interested in doing research that “sits on the shelf”
• The importance of positive racial identity for mental health and resilience.

Featured Expert:

Dr. Henry Willis - https://psyc.umd.edu/facultyprofile/willis/henry

Follow us on Instagram @SparkandStitch, on Facebook @SparkandStitchInstitute, and LinkedIn @erin-walsh-spark-and-stitch.

Resources discussed in this episode can be found here: sparkandstitchinstitute.com/podcast

Connected & Courageous is a podcast of Spark & Stitch Institute with production support from Beth K. Gibbs at Lift Podcasting.

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-seeking loops" on our devices
• Why "looking inward" is as important as "looking outward" during times of uncertainty
• Simple strategies for digital breaks without disconnecting completely

Follow us on Instagram @SparkandStitch, on Facebook @SparkandStitchInstitute, and LinkedIn @erin-walsh-spark-and-stitch.

Resources discussed in this episode can be found here: sparkandstitchinstitute.com/podcast

Connected & Courageous is a podcast of Spark & Stitch Institute with production support from Beth K. Gibbs at Lift Podcasting.

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 @SparkandStitch, on Facebook @SparkandStitchInstitute, and LinkedIn @erin-walsh-spark-and-stitch.

Resources discussed in this episode can be found here: sparkandstitchinstitute.com/podcast

Connected & Courageous is a podcast of Spark & Stitch Institute with production support from Beth K. Gibbs at Lift Podcasting.

Mentioned in this episode:

First Device Guide

New devices require new parenting strategies, new conversations, and new mindsets. Get Spark & Stitch Institute’s “First Device Guide” to help your family make the best choice for your family:

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.”

Erin talks to Dr. Megan Maas about:

• Why teens need you to step into your roles as “sex socializers” (spoiler alert: you don’t need to memorize an entire sex ed book for these conversations)
• Why today’s free online porn is different from pornographic material from your childhood
• How online porn may impact your kids’ health and wellbeing
• Ways to get conversations started - including specific talking points.

Featured Expert:

Dr. Megan Maas -https://www.meganmaas.com/

Follow us on Instagram @SparkandStitch, on Facebook @SparkandStitchInstitute, and LinkedIn @erin-walsh-spark-and-stitch.

Resources discussed in this episode can be found here: sparkandstitchinstitute.com/podcast

Connected & Courageous is a podcast of Spark & Stitch Institute with production support from Beth K. Gibbs at Lift Podcasting.

Mentioned in this episode:

Connected & Courageous listeners can receive 50% off Dr. Maas' online course

Check out Dr. Maas' new online course, called PopPorn Parents. It is a one-of-a-kind course that teaches you everything you wish they didn't need to know about pop culture, pornography, and so much more. PopPorn Parents will help you gain knowledge, shed embarrassment, and establish a strong relationship that can handle difficult, but important conversations so your tweens and teens can thrive.

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 LinkedIn @erin-walsh-spark-and-stitch.

Resources discussed in this episode can be found here: sparkandstitchinstitute.com/podcast

Connected & Courageous is a podcast of Spark & Stitch Institute with production support from Beth K. Gibbs at Lift Podcasting.

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 ways to support teens who are struggling.

Erin talks to Dr. Jason Nagata about:

• Ways to distinguish between “health promoting” activities and signs of struggle.
• Why we shouldn’t ignore the body image and mental health struggles of boys, trans, and non-binary youth.
• The surprising red flags in social media content that go unnoticed when we focus only on girls and thinness.
• Practical steps to take if you’re worried about a young person in your life.

Featured Expert:

Dr. Jason Nagata - https://profiles.ucsf.edu/jason.nagata

Follow us on Instagram @SparkandStitch, on Facebook @SparkandStitchInstitute, and LinkedIn @erin-walsh-spark-and-stitch.

Resources discussed in this episode can be found here: sparkandstitchinstitute.com/podcast

Connected & Courageous is a podcast of Spark & Stitch Institute with production support from Beth K. Gibbs at Lift Podcasting.