Welcome to My Mighty Quinn

I’m Lucia Silver, founder of The Brain Health Movement and mother to the mighty Quinn. This is the podcast where we engage in clear-eyed, courageous conversations about childhood brain health, development, and resilience. Today’s episode is one that every parent and educator must hear.

Wake Up to Screen Toxicity — with Emily Cherkin

In this vital episode, I’m joined by Emily Cherkin, a former educator and leading voice in the movement for tech-intentional parenting. She is the author of The Screentime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a Tech-Intentional Family. Together, we pull back the curtain on the pernicious impact of screen exposure on children’s brains, from toddlers to teens.

Emily brings the data, the insight, and the humanity to a topic that touches every modern household. We explore why screens are not calming children, but instead rewiring their brains in concerning ways; how screen time displaces critical developmental experiences; and why parents must reclaim their power from the tech industry. Emily’s philosophy of “tech intentionality” offers a practical, compassionate framework for every family.

Key Takeaways

• Children aged 8 to 18 now average 7.5 hours of recreational screen time per day - excluding school hours.
• Excessive screen use is displacing vital developmental needs such as movement, sleep, social interaction, and executive function.
• The tech industry is not neutral; products are designed for addiction and profit, not child wellbeing.
• “Calming” effects of screens are neurological myths - screens stimulate, not soothe.
• Parents are not powerless. Delaying, reducing, and modelling healthy tech habits makes a real difference.
• “Tech intentionality” means aligning screen use with family values and developmental needs.
• Reframing the removal of screens as a gift, not a punishment, can radically change the home dynamic.

Resources

• Book: The Screentime Solution by Emily Cherkin
• Free Guide

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