S2 EP 23 - The Screen Time Clash: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
4/20/202617 min
Screens: the ultimate villain… or your kid’s emotional support sidekick? In this playful (and eye-opening) episode, Suzanne dives into the nightly showdown every parent knows too well—the “put the phone down” battle—and flips the script in a way you probably didn’t see coming.
What looks like defiance might actually be overwhelm. What feels like obsession might be regulation. From dopamine hits and digital comparison to cyberbullying and late-night scrolling, we unpack what’s really going on behind the screen—and why simply taking the phone away might be missing the bigger picture.
With relatable s...
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSuzanne M. Swain· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Well, hello, y'all. How's it going? Welcome, and it's a beautiful day to bust some cognitive distortions. My name is Suzanne M. Swain, EDS, LMSW, veteran middle school teacher, child therapist, and school sociologist, and I wanna welcome you to the Middle School Mary Poppins Podcast. And for those new folk, it is a show for kids and families and educators who are all trying to navigate the wild, wonderful, and sometimes extremely overwhelming world of growing up in twenty twenty-six. And before we get started today, I want to brag on you and say thank you. In fact, Oprah Gold Star level, you know, one for you, one for you style. I mean, over the past few days, this podcast, which I make on an app and I make no money on, this is my passion project, it's reached number two in the United States in parenting, and we're kinda holding strong. This is amazing. This is literally a passion project and about as grassroots as it comes, 'cause you know us teachers don't have a lot of money. But you did this. You're listening, you're sharing, and ultimately I think that your beliefs that kids deserve to be understood, and I think it's resonating, and it truly means the world to me that you're here. So from the bottom of my heart, I thank you profusely. Thank you so very much, and I look forward to taking the ride with you. [object clatters] Now, before we dive in, I need to introduce today's co-host, of course, and say hi