What can we ALL do to reduce device time? (Parents too!) Strategies to reduce phone pickups via using Do Not Disturb and using gamification (kids v parents) to see who can use their devices for the least amount of time. We also debate the usefulness of Apple Watches (Big Mama is NOT convinced).

Co-host: Big Mama's cousin George

• How to reduce phone pickups
• Stupid trivia activity usage stats
• Apple Watch - yes or no
• How George's children became vicious CandyLand players. What's up, Princess Frosty Face?
• Create a competition between kids and parents on device usage (spoiler alert - kids will probably win)
• Board games George and his family love
• Why just the term Do Not Disturb triggers anxiety & marital strife in George's house
• Why Big Mama isn't a fan of Apple Watches
• Why parents shouldn't be texting kids during the school day
• Kids are already under immense pressure - added pings and notifications make life more dramatic and complicated
• Using dumb/flip phones as a partial solution
• George catches himself getting distracted by the SILENCE coming from his phone.
• Getting stuck in a reward loop
• Putting your phone, in a different room

Links to products mentioned:

• BOARD GAME: WingSpan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wingspan
• BOARD GAME: Ticket To Ride" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ticket to Ride
• BOARD GAME: Hues and Cues" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hues & Cues

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If you're sick of getting yelled at about your phone use, but your parents are doing the same things, this episode will give you some strategies in how you can confront your parents (in a good way) about your THEIR device overuse. Also: download the Teen Family Contract to give to your parents.

Co-host: Big Mama's cousin George

We know that most adults are just as addicted to their devices as their children. The rule at the dinner table is no phones - but somehow dad or mom have theirs because they're "working." The idea that only kids are making mistakes with technology is absurd. George reveals his 3.5 day usage on his phone showed that he "picked-up" his phone 469 times. Why? His son, Luke, confronted him about his device usage in a way that stopped George in his tracks and made him more aware of his phone usage.

Download:

Big Mama put together a family contract written from a teen's perspective which kids can use to confront their parents in a positive way. It includes items like: I can't pause a live game, and please ask me before posting pictures of me on your social media. You can download the teen family contract here.

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A new season, a new beginning. Too many parents either don't engage or don't believe that their teens (and elementary school kids) are suffering. That’s why Season 2 of my podcast, and all future seasons will be focused directly to the students - to teenagers. If we’re going to make even the slightest dent in digital safety we need help from a population who doesn’t need to be “convinced” that there’s a problem in the first place.  

Kids - make your parents listen to this episode. Here's what they'll hear:

• Your children want YOU, they want you to spend more time with them.
• Your children want for you to SEE them, to care about what’s going on in their lives. 
• They want you to use YOUR phone less, to listen when they’re trying to talk to you.
• They want you to STOP posting about THEM on your social media. 
• They want you to STOP asking them to pause a LIVE GAME 
• They’ll do almost anything to avoid “getting in trouble” including giving in to an online predator’s threats. 
• They want you to know that they’re under immense mental health pressure. 
• They want to stop being used as the world’s scapegoat - the nonsensical idea that kids are the only ones struggling with device usage. As if parents aren’t just as addicted - because they are. 

And as always -

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.