Have we been asking the wrong questions about screen time all along? S9 | Ep227

Technology is everywhere in family life, but does that mean it has to be all-or-nothing?

In this episode, Meg speaks to Rachel Barr, researcher at Georgetown University, about what 25 years of research tells us about young children, technology and learning. They unpack why not all technology is created equal, the impact of technoference on parent-child connection, how algorithms are designed to keep us watching and why some screen experiences can be more supportive of learning than others.

Rachel also shares practical ways parents can use technology more intentionally, from creating family media plans and finding natural “off-ramps” to using joint media engagement to support language and learning.

Most importantly, this conversation moves away from rigid rules and parenting guilt towards something more realistic: making a plan that works for your family and revisiting it as your family changes.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN

• Why not all technology is created equal
• What technoference is and how phones, notifications and background TV can interrupt parent-child interactions
• How background television can disrupt children's play, even when they aren't actively watching it
• What an “off-ramp” is and why natural stopping points can make transitions easier
• Whether using screens to calm a child can affect their developing self-regulation skills
• How to create a flexible family media plan
• What joint media engagement is and why parental involvement can make such a difference
• What to look for when choosing content for young children
• Rachel's one guiding principle for technology during the first 1 000 days: make a plan and revisit it

CHAPTERS

02:59 Is all technology created equal?

05:28 What is technoference?

07:18 How phones and background TV can disrupt play

13:10 Designing technology with an “off-ramp”

15:04 Screens, tantrums and using technology to calm children

19:47 Do tech detoxes actually work?

20:35 Creating a family media plan

24:20 Moving beyond rigid screen-time rules

27:28 Technology, language development and joint media engagement

30:26 Why parental involvement can transform screen learning

35:14 What makes good content for young children?

36:52 Why highly stimulating content can be harder to process

38:07 Rachel's one technology guideline for the first 1,000 days

Dr. Rachel shared her ultimate resource guide including infographics, research and suggested content for your little ones especially with us. Download it HERE

ABOUT THE GUEST

Rachel Barr is a researcher at Georgetown University who has spent more than 25 years studying how babies and young children learn, particularly in relation to media and technology.

Her research has explored children's learning from television and touchscreens, video chat, parent-child interactions and the ways families use technology. She is particularly interested in how parents and caregivers can support young children's learning and development in an increasingly digital world.

In this conversation, Rachel brings a research-led but refreshingly nuanced perspective to a topic that can leave parents feeling overwhelmed and guilty.

Follow Rachel Barr on LinkedIn

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG FURE PODCAST

Sense by Meg is the parenting podcast from occupational therapist, parenting expert and Parent Sense founder Meg Faure.

With more than 20 years of experience in OT and a special focus on infant regulation, sensory processing, attachment and early relationships, Meg brings together leading experts, researchers and parents to explore the science behind raising happy, healthy and resilient children.

The podcast is part of Parent Sense, a science-backed parenting solution designed to help parents understand their children and feel more confident in their parenting journey.

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