Parents these days are digital pioneers, navigating uncharted territory with devices that can access the world with the tap of a finger. The average time spent on screens has doubled to over 8 hours per day since the pandemic. This means screens aren’t just giving our kids access to the world, rather screens have become their world. 

 

With this increased amount of time spent on technology, parents and medical professionals are seeing the mental, physical and behavioral effects on kids like never before. 

 

If you feel like your kids have become screen zombies, today’s episode is for you!

 

Joining me to discuss this topic is author and mom of 6, Molly DeFrank. Molly’s Digital Detox is taking the world by storm, helping parents take back their kids, their time and reconnect as a family.

In today’s episode, Molly and I discuss: 

 

• Signs it’s time for a digital detox
• The effects of technology on brain chemistry
• Easy 4 steps process for families to do their own detox
• Putting technology in its right place

 

As Molly says, “Parents have to work a lot harder today than they had before in order to put technology in its right place.”  

 

In today’s episode we will encourage and show you how!

Connect with Molly on Instagram and get your copy of Digital Detox and access freebies at mollydefrank.com

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FAVORITE TAKEAWAYS:

My precious kids were becoming “screen zombies”

 

Signs it may be time for a digital detox:

Tantrum after screen time that wasn’t age appropriate

Short attention span

Sibling arguments go next-level

Boredom complaints

 

When our kids use their devices, their dopamine levels are through the roof - there’s so much dopamine flowing through the brains that real life doesn’t compare with the dopamine they are getting from these games

 

Our worldviews are all being formed by something - the question is, what is forming their worldview?

 

⅔ of all internet downloads are pornographic

 

“Parents have to work a lot harder today than they had before in order to put technology in its right place.”  

 

Dopamine receptors are actually numbing out the brain - it’s like any addiction loop, you need more and more to satisfy what the brain becomes accustomed to

 

“We want to use [technology] to create and connect, like watching movies together. It’s a great tool for connection but when it comes to isolating and consuming that’s when we took it off the table.”

 

“It is from our littlest kids to our older kids that are negatively being impacted by too much [screentime].”

 

ER visits for 12-17 year old girls doubled for eating disorders since the pandemic 

ER visits tripled with an unexplained tic disorder related to tik toc

 

We treat the tablets like they are the solution but really they are causing the problem.

 

“What we have is this opportunity in our homes to show them we love them all the time no matter what. Especially for kids who’ve been through trauma, that’s what changes lives.”

 

4 Steps Necessary for Tech Detox Success

-Unplugging completely! No “educational” apps or anything. Completely unplugged.

-Study your kids!  Open up opportunities to see what your kids like, such as art or cooking in the kitchen, and encourage them in whatever they like--feeding those desires!

-Develop a list of screen free fun ideas for them. Hype them up! Set goals! 

-Opening the books. Help your kids love to learn reading! 

 

Reading is the gateway to every other hobby and calling.

 

When tech is off the table, they will find things to do!

 

We have this opportunity in our homes to show our kids we love them all of the time, no matter what.