How to Help Kids Use Devices Responsibly

In this episode of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast, I sit down with Jordan Shapiro, author of The New Childhood: Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World. We tackle one of the most pressing challenges for parents and teachers today: how to help kids develop healthy relationships with their devices. From cell phone bans to managing screen time, we dive into the heart of the frustrations many adults face when navigating technology with children.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why kids struggle with device self-regulation and how adults can help them develop this critical skill.
• The concept of Joint Media Engagement (JME) and how sharing screen time with children can lead to healthier habits.
• A balanced perspective on the debate over cell phone bans in schools and what might work best for your classroom or district.
• How to encourage kids to engage critically with technology rather than passively consuming content.
• The role of AI tools like ChatGPT in education, including their limitations and how to guide students toward deeper, creative thinking.

Chapters:

• 00:00 – Introduction and Background
• 03:20 – The Importance of Joint Media Engagement (JME)
• 07:04 – The Debate on Cell Phone Bans in Schools
• 08:33 – Navigating Technology in the Classroom
• 14:59 – The Limitations of AI in Education
• 17:35 – Conclusion

👉 Listen now and access full show notes and bios at coolcatteacher.com/e874.