ScreenStrong Families Melanie Hempe, BSN

Join Dr. Stacey and Melanie as they discuss a new study that suggests mental disorders could potentially spread within adolescent peer groups. In this episode, they unravel findings from a study titled: Transmission of Mental Disorders in Adolescent Peer Networks, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Psychiatry, which sheds light on the concerning implications for teen mental health.The study, which involved over 700,000 participants, reveals a dose-response ass...

In today’s show, Melanie is speaking with Becky Grant, a ScreenStrong parent and teacher, about the topic of smartphones in the classroom. They discuss getting your teacher and school administrators on board with your decision not to give your child a smartphone during the school day. They share tips for speaking with educators and ideas for a sample letter to send to your school before summer! Please refer to a copy of the letter they are speaking about in our Be ScreenStrong Substack this w...

Today, Melanie is joined by Joe Clement, a teacher, parent of three, and co-author of Screen Schooled with Matt Miles. Joe is in his 28th year of teaching and brings a unique perspective as he has witnessed the change technology has brought into both the classroom and the home environment. Melanie and Joe discuss the mental health risk factors that are influenced by the toxic use of screens that result in loss of empathy, loss of awareness of facial/social cues, increased stress, and lac...

Join Melanie Hempe and Dr. Victoria Dunckley, author of Reset Your Child's Brain, as they delve into the pervasive issue of Electronic Screen Syndrome (ESS) and its impact on children's health and well-being. From sleep disturbances to mood swings, ESS encompasses a range of symptoms triggered by excessive screen time, affecting millions of kids worldwide.Drawing from her extensive research and clinical experience, Dr. Dunckley sheds light on the neurological effects of screen exposure. Disco...

Welcome back, ScreenStrong family! Today, we're diving into a crucial topic with the incredible Dr. Adriana Stacey: how to choose the perfect phone for your kids. Parents worldwide are facing the daunting task of selecting the right phone for their children. With so many options available, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But before we make a choice, let's pause and ask ourselves: Why does our child need a phone in the first place?Understanding the purpose behind giving your child a phone is ke...

Join Mandee Hamann as she chats with Dory Suttmiller, an experienced educator and ScreenStrong Ambassador, about the changing role of technology in classrooms. Dory shares insights into fostering better student-teacher interactions and offers practical tips for creating a healthy learning environment amidst digital distractions. Whether you're a teacher or a parent, this episode provides valuable advice for navigating technology's impact on education. Tune in to learn how Dory was able t...