Episode 23: Building Healthy Digital Relationships with Your Kids with Dr Naomi Fisher

In this episode of the podcast Just One Thing For Parents, we tackle the question of how parents can help their children develop a healthy relationship with screens. Our guest, Dr Naomi Fisher challenges the traditional focus on screen time, which can become somewhat of an obsession for well intentioned parents. Doing this distracts from more important considerations when it comes to screens, such as what children are actually doing on the screen, how they connect with their activities and helping them to develop those all-important self-regulations skills. She encourages parents to engage with their kids' screen-based interests rather than just limiting time, showing an interest and perhaps joining them. When we look closely, there is usually a developmental value of children's chosen screen activities. As we share interests with them we build trust in our relationship which will serve them and our relationship (and therefore influence on them) well in the long term. Ultimately, the message is to join children in their digital experiences, validating their interests and building a foundation for communication as they grow.