In this episode, co-host Mandee Hamann is joined by Dany Elachi, co-founder of the Heads Up Alliance, to discuss Australia’s historic move to raise the minimum age for social media access to 16. This game-changing draft bill, which recently passed the Senate, positions Australia as a global leader in protecting children from the harmful impacts of early exposure to social media.Together, Mandee and Dany explore the details of the new law, including why the age of 16 was chosen, how it will be...
In this powerful episode, Melanie Hempe sits down with Michael Rainer, a father of six, to discuss his inspiring journey of transforming his family's screen habits. After hearing a ScreenStrong talk that deeply resonated with him, Michael decided to remove iPads, limit screen time, and even pack away the Nintendo Switch gathering dust in his home. The result? A happier, more connected household—without the battles many parents fear.Michael shares what sparked his passion for tackling the scre...
For this special holiday ENCORE episode, Melanie is joined by her son Evan to discuss practical holiday gift ideas—and encourage people to skip smartphones and video games as gifts this season. Evan, a senior in high school, gives his perspective on the highs and lows of wanting a smartphone in middle & high school and shares some of his favorite childhood gifts.Grab your copy of our Non-Tech Gift Guide discussed in this episode! Exclusively available in our Connect Plus subscription.Evan...
Every year, we talk about Christmas gifts, but this year we're getting ahead of the game with a plan for a Screen-Free Christmas.In this episode, Melanie Hempe and ScreenStrong Ambassador, Liz Breen, unwrap the magic of "real" toys—the ones that spark creativity, inspire imagination, and build lasting memories. They explore why video games and smartphones are not true toys and discuss the loss that comes when these screens replace traditional childhood gifts. Melanie shares personal stories, ...
In this heartwarming episode, host Melanie Hempe sits down with children’s book author Beth Wilson to discuss her beautifully crafted book, Togetherness Town. Beth reads her inspiring story aloud, inviting listeners into a world where connection and community are at the heart of every page.Melanie and Beth dive into the themes of Togetherness Town, discussing the vital role of community, the often-overlooked gift of boredom, and the importance of building strong, in-person relationships. Whet...
Join Mandee Hamann and special guest Rob McLeod—known as Frisbee Rob—for an inspiring episode of the ScreenStrong Families Podcast, one you can listen to with your kids and teens! Rob, a Guinness World Record holder and newly certified ScreenStrong Ambassador, has spent over a decade traveling to schools, engaging over 200,000 students, and encouraging healthy screen habits and active lifestyles. In this episode, Rob shares his journey, offers a mini-version of his school assembly, and a...
In this episode, Melanie and Dr. Stacey explore how teachers and parents can collaborate to create a phone-free school environment. Teachers can support the policy by using research-backed education, setting an example with their own phone use, and staying alert to signs of phone overuse, like distracted behavior and declining grades. Parents play a crucial role by supporting the school’s efforts, limiting contact with kids during school hours, and encouraging phone-free days.For parents want...
Are you considering a smartphone-free childhood for your teens? In a world where teens seem inseparable from their phones, it's refreshing to hear from those who have taken a different path.Andrew Hempe and Lydia Hamann share insights on making friends without social media, engaging activities that replace endless scrolling, thriving while being different from the crowd, and why they don’t harbor resentment toward their parents for opting out of smartphones. This Show is perfect for your twee...
In this episode, host Melanie Hempe is joined by her son, Andrew, who shares his personal insights on screen habits and addiction. Together, they dispel the myth that setting boundaries around screen time leads to rebellion. Instead, Andrew explains how boundaries are an act of love that helps kids thrive.They focus on three main ideas:Boundaries = Love: Kids do better with limits, especially when it comes to addictive activities like video gaming and social media.Habit Science: The habits ki...
In this episode, host Melanie Hempe sits down with psychiatrist and author, Dr. Anna Lembke, to dive deep into the science behind screen addiction and its impact on teen brains. Using Melanie’s personal experience with her son Adam as a starting point, they explore dopamine's role in shaping behavior, particularly in a teen's developing brain.Dr. Lembke breaks down what every parent needs to know about dopamine—the brain’s reward chemical—and how screen activities can hijack this system in wa...
In this episode of the ScreenStrong Families podcast, host Melanie Hempe sits down with Jennifer, a mother who chose a unique approach to parenting in the digital age. Jennifer shares her story of raising several children thriving socially and academically without the constant presence of smartphones and social media. Contrary to the belief that children without devices will struggle socially, Jennifer's kids are confident, active, and leaders in their extracurriculars, with her oldest daught...
In this episode, Melanie speaks with Dr. Kim Le, a child and adolescent psychiatrist based in Adelaide, Australia. He completed his psychiatry training in New South Wales and in 2015, Dr. Le received a federal grant to collaborate with an Internet Gaming Addiction Clinic for teenagers in Singapore. He has a special interest in “Gaming Disorder," which was recognized by the World Health Organization in 2018 as a mental health disorder. Dr. Le shares his professional journey that led to hi...
In today's episode, Melanie tackles common misconceptions about screen use for children and teens. She emphasizes the importance of setting healthy boundaries to protect our children and shares practical strategies for limiting screen time. Melanie breaks down the warning signs of screen addiction and reveals the hidden dangers of persuasive design, showing how tech is intentionally designed to capture young minds. Melanie also discusses how fostering offline activities can help create a heal...
In today’s episode, we dive into a hot topic on the minds of many parents: “Why have a phone-free school?” We’re joined by the brilliant Dr. Adriana Stacey to unpack six key mental health reasons behind the need for phone-free schools.We explore the alarming stats on how smartphones impact teenagers' mental health, academic performance, and social development. From skyrocketing rates of anxiety and depression to increased loneliness and bullying, the evidence is clear—phones do not belong in ...
Tune in for a powerful live presentation with Melanie and her son Andrew, as they delve into the science of screen overuse and offer actionable solutions for reclaiming your children from the grip of digital addiction.In this insightful session, Melanie shares the vital knowledge she wishes she had before her eldest child struggled with screen addiction. Together, they’ll explore the science behind childhood screen addiction, including critical facts about healthy brain development, the dopam...
In this enlightening episode, host Mandee Hamann sits down with learning specialist Jamie Seibert (Enrichment Therapy and Learning Center) to explore the essential strategies for teaching and developing executive function skills in children and teens. Jamie, with years of experience working with young learners, shares her top tips for fostering skills like organization, time management, and self-regulation—crucial for academic success and personal growth. Whether you’re a parent, educato...
In this episode, Melanie sits down with Teralea Moore—a seasoned college math professor with over 20 years of teaching experience across high school, community college, and private college settings. Teralea brings her wealth of knowledge to the conversation, sharing her top 10 tips for thriving in the classroom. Whether you're navigating elementary school, high school, or college, these insights will help students, parents, and educators alike achieve success at every educational level.S...
This interview is shared with permission from Dave Anderson and the Tech Seeking Human Podcast.In this compelling interview from the Tech Seeking Human Podcast, Melanie shares her deeply personal journey of navigating her oldest son’s video game addiction and the profound impact it had on his life. The conversation also explores widespread misconceptions about teenage social media use, underscores the critical need for setting boundaries, and highlights the advantages of fostering offline act...
Join us as host Andrew Hempe sits down with Uly Junker, a fellow ScreenStrong Teen who made the bold decision to ditch his smartphone. In this compelling episode, Uly shares his journey of breaking free from the grip of his device, detailing his thought process before and after the change. He highlights the pros and cons of life without a smartphone and offers valuable advice for teens considering a similar path. Andrew, who has grown up without a smartphone, adds his own insights into the be...
CONTENT WARNING: Discussions around pornography and sexual material. Not suitable for anyone under 18 without parental approval.One of the hardest challenges in parenting today is managing exposure to pornography. At ScreenStrong, we take this issue very seriously and understand that for many parents, this is a major reason for removing toxic screen platforms. We include pornography on our list of the three toxic screens we guard against, alongside video games and social media.In this episode...
AJB
Where were the solutions for teens and young adults...? Are they going to want family time as a reward too? nope.