S2 EP 29 - SEL Summer Camp Week 2: Are Screens Evil or Not? Chocolate Cake, Dopamine & the Middle School Brain
6/16/202627 min
💜☂️ Are Screens Evil or Not? Chocolate Cake, Dopamine & the Middle School Brain | SEL Summer Camp Week 2
Why do kids seem glued to their phones? Why do texts, group chats, likes, and social media feel so important during middle school? And are screens really harming kids—or is the answer more complicated than that?
In Week 2 of our SEL Summer Camp collaboration with Mightier, Suzanne Swain, EdS, LMSW sits down with developmental scientist Jason Kahn, PhD, co-founder of Mightier, to explore what brain science actually tells us about technology, screen time, dopamine, emotional regulation, social media, friendships, and adolescent development.
Together, we discuss:
🧠 The middle school brain and dopamine
📱 Why social media feels so powerful
🍰 The “Chocolate Cake Theory” of technology
💬 Why kids see phones differently than adults
❤️ The importance of belonging during adolescence
🎮 Healthy technology habits and screen balance
🌱 Boredom, creativity, and imagination
🏕️ Family conversations that reduce conflict and build connection
This episode helps parents, educators, counselors, and caregivers better understand how technology interacts with the developing adolescent brain—and how to guide middle schoolers toward healthier digital habits without shame, fear, or constant power struggles.
Special SEL Summer Camp Partner: Mightier
Mightier uses biofeedback-powered video games to help kids build emotional regulation skills in real time. Middle School Mary Poppins listeners receive 15% off with code MARYPOPPINS at Mightier.com.
📥 Download this week’s Summer Camp activity guide:
msmarypoppins.com
📧 Questions or stories?
SuzanneSwain@gmail.com
#Parenting #MiddleSchool #ScreenTime #SocialMedia #Dopamine #AdolescentBrain #EmotionalRegulation #SEL #SocialEmotionalLearning #ExecutiveFunctioning #Neurodiversity #TweenParenting #TeenParenting #ChildDevelopment #DigitalWellness #Mightier #MiddleSchoolMaryPoppins #BrainScience #ParentingPodcast #FamilyConnection
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSuzanne M. Swain· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Well, hey, y'all. Welcome back. It's a beautiful day to bust a few cognitive distortions. My name is Suzanne M. Swain. I'm an educational specialist, licensed master social worker, former middle school teacher, school librarian administrator, and yada, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah, but I love middle school, and that's why I'm really excited that you're here today. Most importantly, I'm really just someone who wants to help you and your family understand the wonderfully weird world of middle school. And today, we're continuing our special six-week socio-emotional learning, SEL, summer camp, our incredible collaboration between Middle School Mary Poppins and Mightier. So cool. And remember, I sought them out, y'all, so they're pretty amazing. Throughout the summer, we're exploring emotional regulation, social skills, communication, technology, anxiety, anger, and all the fascinating things happening inside the adolescent brain. So joining me again today, we have Dr. Jason Kahn, developmental scientist, co-founder of Mightier, and honestly, one of my favorite people to talk brain science with. We just call him Jason. Jason, welcome back to camp.
Jason Kahn· Guest1:09
Hi. I'm so happy to be here, Suzanne.
Suzanne M. Swain· Host1:12
Wonderful. Well, before we jump in today's topic, I wanna remind our listeners about our partner Mightier and some of the things that they do. One of the things that I really like about them is that they took something that kids already love, video games, and then asked a really important question: What