When was the last time you explained to grandparents why broadcasting your kids' photos to their friends is risky?

Patricia Cangas talks with cybersecurity professionals Kae David and Chad Rychlewski, co-authors of Cyber Smart Parenting. Kae works with tech enterprises and has over 10 years in cybersecurity, while Chad has spent 16 years protecting public sector institutions including K-20 schools where his own children attend. They break down complex security concepts into everyday language parents can use. What should you know about digital footprints before your child gets their first device? Both experts stress that open communication matters far more than perfect technical controls.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Cybersecurity experts introduce their backgrounds working with enterprises and schools
• (03:28) Why most cybersecurity books are too complex for busy parents
• (06:00) The major risks parents overlook when posting photos online
• (10:33) Parents spend only 46 minutes talking about cybersecurity from birth to age 18
• (14:18) The digital footprint lesson every sixth grader needs to know
• (19:57) What to do when kids see inappropriate content online
• (22:43) Kids will bypass parental controls without open communication
• (25:13) Where to find the book and downloadable family tech contract
• Share with someone who would benefit, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

About the Show

Patricia Cangas Rumeu, a seasoned expert in digital literacy and educational technology, hosts Pixel Parenting - where she empowers busy parents to navigate their kids' tech use with confidence and science-based insights. This bi-weekly podcast cuts through digital parenting confusion by exploring everything from screen time strategies to educational apps with expert guests and practical tools. Patricia combines her background as both a mother and technology educator to help families build healthy digital habits that work for real life, creating a community where parents can learn what being "tech-savvy" really means for kids today.

Resources:

cybersecurityparents.com - Main website for Cyber Smart Parenting book, includes blog posts about current cybersecurity topics, downloadable resources, and tech updates beyond what's in the book

info@cybersecurityparents.com - Contact email for questions, school presentations, or PTA/PTO speaking requests

Page 77 of Cyber Smart Parenting - Contains a tear-out mad lib-style family tech contract to complete with your child (sets rules for screen time, device locations, and online behavior through collaborative conversation)

Halloween-themed cybersecurity games - Word searches and activities mentioned as available on cybersecurityparents.com, now adapted for year-round use (helps teach password protection, phishing awareness, and stranger danger online)

Credit freezing for children - Process takes approximately 3-4 hours per child to protect against identity theft

Pixel Parenting Digital Resources: https://pixelparenting.org/digital-education-resources/
Pixel Parenting Podcast: https://pixelparenting.org/podcast/
Pixel Parenting Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553247026258
Pixel Parenting IG:

Which parental mediation strategy does research say works best—and why?

Patricia Cangas sits down with Kaitlin Tiches, a research librarian at Boston Children's Hospital and the Digital Wellness Lab, who translates the latest media research into practical guidance for families. Kaitlin unpacks parental mediation strategies—from active conversations to co-viewing and boundary-setting—and tackles real challenges like sibling fairness and bedroom device rules. "Our number one suggested rule is screens outside of the bedroom," she emphasizes. This episode delivers research-backed approaches parents can implement immediately, including autonomy-supportive mediation and why young people themselves are demanding better digital literacy education.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) What a research librarian does to help parents navigate contradictory media studies
• (05:22) Understanding parental mediation and the three research-backed approaches
• (08:41) Handling different-age siblings when screen rules feel unfair
• (13:53) Why bedroom device bans matter and how to explain the rule to kids
• (20:38) What parents need to know about kids using AI tools
• (29:26) The one change every family should make this week
• (31:03) Why young people are demanding a seat at the digital wellness table
• Share with someone who would benefit, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

About the Show

Patricia Cangas Rumeu, a seasoned expert in digital literacy and educational technology, hosts Pixel Parenting - where she empowers busy parents to navigate their kids' tech use with confidence and science-based insights. This bi-weekly podcast cuts through digital parenting confusion by exploring everything from screen time strategies to educational apps with expert guests and practical tools. Patricia combines her background as both a mother and technology educator to help families build healthy digital habits that work for real life, creating a community where parents can learn what being "tech-savvy" really means for kids today.

Resources:

Digital Wellness Lab Website
https://digitalwellnesslab.org
Main hub for accessing all research, guides, and resources mentioned in the episode.

Kaitlin Tiches on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlin-tiches/
Connect with Kaitlin directly and follow her work.

Family Digital Wellness Guide
https://digitalwellnesslab.org/family-digital-wellness-guide/
Comprehensive guide separated by developmental stage with parenting practices, trends, and age-appropriate strategies.

Family Guides Collection
https://digitalwellnesslab.org/family-guides/
Additional topic-specific guides for families navigating digital wellness challenges.

Pixel Parenting Digital Resources: https://pixelparenting.org/digital-education-resources/
Pixel Parenting Podcast: https://pixelparenting.org/podcast/
Pixel Parenting Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553247026258
Pixel Parenting IG: https://www.instagram.com/pixel...

Could reframing one conversation turn your teen from defensive to collaborative about screen time?

Host Patricia Cangas talks with Dino Ambrosi, founder of Project Reboot, who turned his college struggle with phone addiction into a program now reaching over 50,000 students. Dino walks through surprising data showing 70% of teens at top schools self-identify as addicted to their phones, why banning devices without student buy-in often backfires, and practical strategies parents can start tonight. "We get addicted to escaping discomfort through seeking distraction," he explains. His biggest recommendation? Stop approaching tech time as you versus your teen—it's all of us versus addictive technology designed to keep everyone hooked.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) An Instagram addiction in college led to the creation of Project Reboot
• (05:20) Shocking poll results show 70% of teens at top schools feel addicted to their phones
• (08:52) Why bell-to-bell phone bans can backfire and create underground magnet black markets
• (20:53) How to start the conversation without making it you versus your teen
• (25:08) Three simple changes parents can try this week to reduce family screen time
• Share with someone who would benefit, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

About the Show

Patricia Cangas Rumeu, a seasoned expert in digital literacy and educational technology, hosts Pixel Parenting - where she empowers busy parents to navigate their kids' tech use with confidence and science-based insights. This bi-weekly podcast cuts through digital parenting confusion by exploring everything from screen time strategies to educational apps with expert guests and practical tools. Patricia combines her background as both a mother and technology educator to help families build healthy digital habits that work for real life, creating a community where parents can learn what being "tech-savvy" really means for kids today.

Resources:

ClearSpace - Free app for students that creates pauses before opening distracting apps, with social accountability features: https://www.clearspace.app/

ScreenZen - Free app (tipping model) for managing app usage with intentional delays, good Android option: https://screenzen.com/

Grayscale mode - Built-in iPhone setting that reduces screen appeal (Settings > Accessibility > Color Filters > Grayscale)

Notification Audit - Review and limit phone notifications to only urgent matters (Settings > Notifications)

Dino Ambrosi TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TMPXK9tw5U

Dino Ambrosi Website:...

What do Minecraft, D&D, and Fortnite actually teach your child's developing brain?

Dr. Kelli Dunlap, a licensed clinical psychologist with a master's in game design and executive director of Take This, joins host Patricia Cangas to explore video games as tools for learning and development. Dunlap explains why humans play, what games teach children at different ages, and how parents can distinguish healthy gaming from problematic patterns. She walks through practical strategies for managing screen time transitions, teaching emotional regulation through gameplay, and using curiosity instead of judgment when engaging with kids about their digital lives. "All games teach—whether or not it's what you want your kid to learn is a different story," Dunlap explains, reframing gaming as an opportunity rather than a threat.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Dr. Dunlap - from psychology doctorate to game design degree
• (05:22) Why humans are hardwired to play and what makes games uniquely powerful for learning
• (10:27) What your child actually learns from Minecraft, Fortnite, and tabletop games
• (19:55) The difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships with gaming
• (26:34) How to handle the moment when gaming time ends and your kid refuses to stop
• (33:05) Why completely avoiding tablets might actually put kids at a disadvantage
• (37:53) The new generation of therapists using games in clinical practice
• (40:21) Three essential tips every parent needs about gaming and mental health
• Share with someone who would benefit, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

About the Show

Patricia Cangas Rumeu, a seasoned expert in digital literacy and educational technology, hosts Pixel Parenting - where she empowers busy parents to navigate their kids' tech use with confidence and science-based insights. This bi-weekly podcast cuts through digital parenting confusion by exploring everything from screen time strategies to educational apps with expert guests and practical tools. Patricia combines her background as both a mother and technology educator to help families build healthy digital habits that work for real life, creating a community where parents can learn what being "tech-savvy" really means for kids today.

Resources:

Halo series - https://www.halowaypoint.com/

Minecraft - https://www.minecraft.net/

Fortnite - https://www.fortnite.com/

Fall Guys -

"Parents can be worried about all the other million things that we're worried about for our kids. But violent video games in and of themselves should not be at the top of that list."
- Dr. Rachel Kowert

Host Patricia Cangas sits down with Dr. Rachel Kowert, a psychologist and game researcher whose work has appeared in The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Dr. Kowert founded the Psychgeist YouTube channel and podcast to make game science accessible to the public. She tackles the persistent myth linking violent games to real-world violence, explaining how decades of research show no direct connection. "We've done this research, we've put millions of dollars of research funding into this to look at those links and we just don't see them," she explains. Parents learn practical ways to evaluate games beyond ratings and foster healthy gaming conversations with their kids.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Intro and why this topic stays in the headlines

• (02:19) The plot twist: what the evidence actually shows

• (05:15) Population trends vs crime: why correlation claims fall apart

• (10:18) Beyond ratings: how parents can vet games in the real world

• (15:35) Bro talk, gamer culture, and house rules

• (18:08) Why social context matters more than pixel violence

• (19:28) Why we play: motivations and social pull

• Share with someone who would benefit, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

About the Show

Patricia Cangas Rumeu, a seasoned expert in digital literacy and educational technology, hosts Pixel Parenting - where she empowers busy parents to navigate their kids' tech use with confidence and science-based insights. This bi-weekly podcast cuts through digital parenting confusion by exploring everything from screen time strategies to educational apps with expert guests and practical tools. Patricia combines her background as both a mother and technology educator to help families build healthy digital habits that work for real life, creating a community where parents can learn what being "tech-savvy" really means for kids today.

Resources:

• Dr. Rachel Kowert:
  • Dr. Rachel Kowert Website: https://rkowert.com
  • Psychgeist Podcast: https://rkowert.com/psychgeist/#podcast
  • Psychgeist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/psychgeist
• Games We Talked About (With Links!) These are some of the games the guest mentioned, along with links so you can explore them:
  • Mortal Kombat – Fighting game series known for realistic violence and fatalities:https://www.mortalkombat.com/
  • Grand Theft Auto (GTA) – Open-world action game series: https://www.rockstargames.com/gta-v
  • Call of Duty – Military first-person shooter series:

Pediatric speech-language pathologist Denise Santos Ford, M.S., CCC-SLP joins Pixel Parenting to demystify what SLPs actually do (far beyond “fixing R’s”), how screen time intersects with social-emotional and language development, and practical, evidence-aligned ways parents can use tech—together with their kids—to spark more words. We also talk AAC devices, video-modeling, telehealth vs. in-person therapy, ultrasound biofeedback for tricky sounds, and emerging AI tools that may support home practice.

• What SLPs treat beyond articulation and stuttering: phonology, motor planning/apraxia, social-pragmatic language, literacy (reading/writing), cognition, and feeding/swallowing.
• What research suggests about screen exposure, social-emotional development, and why co-viewing with a caregiver matters.
• Turning apps and shows into language prompts (not babysitters): used together to model vocabulary, emotions, and conversation.
• Assistive tech & AAC: giving kids a voice while speech develops; when and how SLPs trial apps/devices.
• Home practice that sticks: video-modeling, self-monitoring, and level-by-level targets.
• Telehealth vs. in-person: what works, what’s harder, and the role of caregiver coaching.
• Tools for tricky sounds: delayed auditory feedback, visual meters, and ultrasound to “see” the tongue for /k, g, r/.
• AI on the horizon: supervised home practice and feedback loops from university research teams.

• Co-view and narrate: pause, label feelings, predict, and relate on-screen moments to your child’s day.
• Use apps together as conversation starters (not solo time): describe, compare, decide, and reflect.
• Match the practice level: at home, stay one level below what the SLP is targeting to ensure success and carryover.
• Try video-modeling: record, rewatch, notice small mouth-movement tweaks, then try again.

• Toca Boca — https://tocaboca.com/
• Toca Boca World – App Store — https://apps.apple.com/us/app/toca-boca-world/id1208138685
• Toca Boca World – Google Play — https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tocaboca.tocalifeworld
• ABCya — https://www.abcya.com/
• ABCya – Google Play — https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.abcya.android.games
• PBS KIDS Games Hub — https://pbskids.org/games
• PBS KIDS – Home — https://pbskids.org/
• Boom Learning (Boom Cards) — https://www.boomlearning.com/
• Speech Blubs — https://speechblubs.com/
• Speech Blubs – App Store — https://apps.apple.com/in/app/speech-blubs-language-therapy/id1239522573
• Speech Blubs – Google Play — https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.blubblub.app.speechblubs
• Articulation Station (Little Bee Speech) — https://littlebeespeech.com/articulation_station.php
• Articulation Station Hive – App Store — https://apps.apple.com/us/app/articulation-station-hive/id1485607474
• Bla Bla Bla – App Store (sound‑reactive) — https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bla-bla-bla/id430815432
• Ultimate SLP — https://www.ultimateslp.com/
• Learning Ally (audiobooks for dyslexia) — https://learningally.org/
• ASHA – American Speech‑Language‑Hearing Association — https://www.asha.org/
• Syracuse University – Speech Production Research Lab — https://speechproductionlab.syr.edu/
• Speech Motor Chaining (research site) — https://chaining.syr.edu/
• Rachel – Songs for Littles (YouTube) — https://www.youtube.com/@msrachel
• Dora the Explorer – Nickelodeon — https://www.nickanimation.com/content/dora-the-explorer/
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse – Disney+ — https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-eb0bb177-6278-48ec-902d-4efb916a...

In this episode of Pixel Parenting, I talk with Julianna Lorenzen, co-founder of Healthy Screen Habits, about how screens shape kids’ brains, and what we can do about it.

Julianna has a background in sports medicine and is also a mom of four. She shares how her medical expertise and parenting journey led her to co-found a nonprofit that helps families navigate tech use with science, compassion, and practical tools. We cover the brain science behind screen habits, what makes apps so addictive, and five habits every family can use to build a healthier relationship with technology.

Whether you’re just starting to think about screen time or already deep in the trenches, this episode will give you tools, and hope.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why understanding brain development changes how we parent with tech

• How persuasive design and attention economy are hijacking our kids’ attention

• The difference between our screen habits and theirs—and why both matter

• How to talk to your kids (and grandparents!) about screens

• Why it’s never too late to make a change, even if the phone is already in the bedroom

✅ Healthy Screen Habits Website

So many great resources to learn, reflect, and take action:

https://www.healthyscreenhabits.org

Free Tools You Can Download

• Family Technology Plan (English & Spanish)

• Five Core Healthy Screen Habits

• “What to Do When You’re Feeling Meh” – great for helping kids with emotional regulation

• Book: Healthy Screen Habits for Tweens & Teens:. It’s colorful, easy to read, and packed with science and conversation starters—perfect for reading with your kids. Find it on Amazon

Healthy Screen Habits Podcast

There’s an entire episode library organized by topic—so helpful.

Podcast...

In this conversation, Dr. Celeste Sangiorgio discusses the intersection of video games and mental health, exploring how gaming can be utilized as a therapeutic tool. She shares insights on designing games that address mental health challenges, the importance of narrative in engaging players, and how games can influence identity development and empathy. The discussion also touches on parenting styles as represented in games, the potential for games to foster conversations between parents and children, and the future of gaming in mental health advocacy.

Takeaways

• Dr. Celeste Sangiorgio focuses on translating cognitive behavior therapy concepts into game environments.
• Games can help build awareness of emotions and improve communication skills.
• Narrative games can effectively teach mental health skills in an engaging way.
• Video games influence identity development and self-perception in children and teens.
• Moral decision-making in games allows players to explore different perspectives.
• Parenting styles in games reflect real-life caregiving dynamics.
• Games can serve as conversation starters between parents and children.
• Research in gaming and mental health is rapidly evolving and promising.
• Effective communication with children about gaming can enhance their understanding and development.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Celeste Sangiorgio’s Website

• MindLight – a biofeedback game designed to help children manage anxiety: MindLight Overview (Games for Change)

• Psychgeist Series by Dr. Rachel Kowert: https://rkowert.com/psychgeist/

• A Parent’s Guide to Video Games by Rachel Kowert: https://rkowert.com/books/

• Games mentioned: Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Final Fantasy VII, The Witcher, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, God of War, Metal Gear Solid

Follow Us

Show notes & more at pixelparenting.org

Instagram: @pixelparentingtips

Don’t forget to follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!