The parent-child relationship is the foundation of a child’s development, shaping their behavior, values, personality, and sense of self. But in today’s digital world, where children are using personal media devices earlier than ever in life, how is this critical bond evolving? How do parents’ own tech habits – whether it’s constant connectivity, guilt and stress about their own screen time, or digital distractions – impact their children?
Children and Screens held the #AskTheExperts webinar “Technical Interference: Screens and the Parent-Child Relationship” on Wednesday, April 9 at 12PT ET via Zoom. A panel of psychologists and researchers shared the latest evidence on how digital media use can affect parent-child dynamics, and provided helpful tips on how to strengthen this important bond in an increasingly digital world.
Speakers
-
Catherine Steiner-Adair, EdD
Clinical Psychologist, Consultant, Author, SpeakerModerator
-
Brandon T. McDaniel, PhD
Senior Research Scientist, Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation
-
Michaeline Jensen, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
-
Lara Wolfers, PhD
Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel
-
Stephanie Reich, PhD
Professor, School of Education, University of California, Irvine
Resources Mentioned During the Webinar
- The Big Disconnect (Book)
- Technoference: Parent mobile device use and implications for children and parent-child relationships (Scholarly Article)
- one sec (Tool/App)
- Daily parent-adolescent digital exchanges (Scholarly Article)
- Digital Parenting of Emerging Adults in the 21st Century (Scholarly Article)
- Family Media Plan (Tool/App)
- Guilt over kids’ screen time is common, uncomfortable and can stress family relationships − but it can have a silver lining (News Article)
- Too much screen time or too much guilt? (News Article)
- Brief Report - Modeling media use: How parents' and other adults' posting behaviors relate to young adolescents' posting behaviors (Scholarly Article)
- Center of Excellence on Social Media and Adolescent Mental Health (Website
- Media and parenting: Current findings and future directions (Scholarly Article)
- Fairplay (Website)
00:00:10 – Introductions by Executive Director of Children and Screens Kris Perry.
00:01:42 – Moderator Catherin Steiner-Adair on the importance of centering the parent-child relationship when examining effects of media use.
00:05:56 – Brandon T. McDaniel on infant attachment and technoference.
00:18:13 – Moderator follow-up: What are the impacts for toddlers who do not understand that parents are engaging in purposeful media use?
00:21:47 – Michaeline Jensen on the ways media can facilitate parent-adolescent relationships.
00:33:54 – Lara Wolfers on impacts of parental guilt and stress about digital media use on the parent-child relationship.
00:41:45 – Moderator follow-up: How can feelings of guilt be reframed as a desire for attachment? How can smartphones be used to facilitate connection and attachment?
00:45:49 – Stephanie Reich on the ways media can be used to support the parent-child relationship.
00:56:08 – Moderator follow-up: What is the appropriate amount of screen time for a middle schooler vs. high schooler?
00:57:41 – The panel addresses questions from the audience.
00:57:47 – Q&A: At any developmental stage, how can a parent repair a parent-child relationship that has been damaged by too much screen time?
01:01:42 -Q&A: What can be done when two parents do not agree about their children’s screen usage?
01:03:17 – Q&A: What can parents do when children live in two different households with different media rules?
01:04:33 – Q&A: What advice do you have for parents whose children are upset about gaming limits?
01:06:50 – Q&A: What is the best way to teach kids about tech so they feel empowered to use it on their own behalf and are aware of the impacts on their relationships?
01:12:03 – Q&A: What are the signs that screen time is negatively affecting a child?
01:18:49 – Q&A: How can parents manage conflict in media conversations with their children?
01:25:07 – Wrap-up with Children and Screens’ Executive Director Kris Perry.
A full transcript for this webinar will be made available soon.
Technical Interference: Screens and the Parent-Child Relationship
How is today's digital world influencing the parent-child relationship? How do parents' own tech habits impact their children?
Growing Up Lonely? Child Connection and Isolation in the Digital Age
Are today’s children lonelier than past generations? How are digital devices and social media shaping their ability to connect, and what does that mean for their long-term emotional and social well-being?
Early Childhood Mental Health and Media Use
A tip sheet for parents and caregivers
Signs of Loneliness in Children and Adolescents
From the #AskTheExperts webinar “Growing Up Lonely? Connection and Isolation in the Digital Age”
Does Teen Phone Use Affect Romantic Relationships?
Do phones and other digital devices prevent teens from having fulfilling romantic relationships? What are the drawbacks of using these devices to communicate with partners? Are there benefits?
