S2 EP 24 - Leveling Up Self-Regulation: The Final Countdown
4/28/202636 min
Screen time is not going anywhere, so instead of arguing about whether it is “good” or “bad,” let’s get specific about what it doing positively for our kids. My EDS is in Education Technology, bring it!
This is episode two in our exploring screen time series, where we discuss how digital tools can be used in more intentional, supportive ways for kids and families. I found Mightier! I think Mightier is doing something truly innovative, affordable, & educationally way ahead of the pack. So, I vetted it. Again and again. Nights of secretly evaluating on ridiculously high-level criteria. Had kids try it.
And the Result? Legit👏🫶🏼
I sought THEM out. No paid testimonial. Just a shrewd educator seeking a diamond. Really thrilled to bring this solution to listeners. There are kids out there that would be so benefited by what they do with biometrics. Brilliant.
WEBSITE: www.mightier.com
COUPON CODE: MARYPOPPINS (15% OFF)
In this episode, I share a surprising tool I vetted myself: a set of video games that use heart-rate biofeedback to help kids practice emotional regulation while they play. If your child melts down quickly, struggles with anxiety, or gets stuck in frustration, this conversation offers a concrete way to think about intentional screen time and digital wellness at home. Please note: I am not being paid in any capacity for this interview. I simply am absolutely mesmerized by this software. Share the knowledge!
A VISIT FROM JESSICA RAGNIO FROM MIGHTIER:
Suzanne is joined by her first-ever guest, Jessica Ragnio, a clinical social worker, therapist, and mom of three who serves as Clinical Director at Mightier. She breaks down how the program grew out of research at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and why real-time practice matters more than simply talking about coping skills when a child is already flooded.
We dig into how the games respond to rising heart rate, what “red zone” and “blue zone” cues look like, and how kids are rewarded for bringing their bodies back down to calm.
We also cover what families tend to notice over time, including stronger emotional awareness, better frustration tolerance, and calmer recovery in school and friendships. For parents who want visibility, we talk through the companion app and the progress data it tracks, including cooldowns.
If you want to explore it yourself, head to www.mightier.com and use the code MARYPOPPINS for 15% off.
If this episode helps you rethink screen time, subscribe, share it with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find practical mental health tools.
Contact Suzanne M. Swain EdS LMSW:
Website: msmarypoppins.com
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Productions
Special thanks to our producer, StellaMix podcast productions, another Palm Beach County School of the Arts collaboration. Need a podcast? Connect with Janine Stella ASAP: http://www.Stellamix.com
Send Suzanne a Question or Comment:
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSuzanne M. Swain· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Well, hello everybody. It's a beautiful day to bust a few cognitive distortions. How's it going? Well, my name is Suzanne M. Swain, EDS, LMSW, and I am your friendly navigator through this emotional world of teens. So today, we're actually gonna continue this internet safety and technology series that I basically started last episode, because I feel like it's really important to delve deeply into the safety and technology issue, because a lot of families are really confused about what to trust and what not to trust. And I have a specialist degree in educational tech, so I thought if I could find some really good examples for you of a positive use of screen time, I think it's worth noting. So this particular one, this episode that we're doing today, I think a lot of families really need to hear this, because we're gonna sit kind of right in the middle of something that creates a lot of tension. So let's do it. Screen time. So, so in our last episode, we were talking about how kids are using screens not just for entertainment really, but for regulation and calming down, for connecting, and sometimes just for getting through the day. I mean, that's hard enough. So if you're a family listening, you've probably felt that internal conflict. You know, on one hand we hear, "Limit screen time. Get off the devices. Screens are a problem," yada, yada. But, you know, on the other hand, we're watching our kids use those same screens to decompress and regulate, and