247. Tween and Teen Screen Time: What Parents Need to Know About Healthy Use, Red Flags, and AI
Is your tween or teen’s screen time healthy, or is it becoming a real problem?
Parents ask this all the time, and the answer is not as simple as counting hours. In this episode, Tess Connolly talks with physician and digital wellbeing expert Dr. Sajita Setia about what actually matters when it comes to tween and teen screen time, digital health, sleep, social connection, red flags, and AI.
This conversation goes beyond the usual “how many hours is too much?” debate. Tess and Dr. Setia break down how parents can tell the difference between healthy device use and harmful patterns, what warning signs to watch for, why sleep is one of the biggest overlooked factors, and how AI is already changing childhood and adolescence.
They also discuss the difference between “bloom scrolling” and “doom scrolling,” why devices in bedrooms are such a problem, and what parents can do right now to build more connection instead of more conflict.
If you are parenting a tween or teen and feeling behind, overwhelmed, or worried about screen time, this episode will help you:
- understand what healthy screen use actually looks like
- spot early red flags around problematic use
- protect your child’s sleep, mood, and mental health
- think more clearly about AI and kids
- feel more confident setting limits without constant power struggles
Listen in, then share this episode with another parent who is trying to figure out how to navigate phones, social media, gaming, and AI with their child.
If this conversation resonates, make sure you’re on my email list for more support around parenting tweens and teens, screen time, connection, and emotional health.
Learn more about Dr. Sajita Setia and her work at https://sajitasetia.com/
⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families
⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses)
📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: [email protected] Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com
🆘 Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 45-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session: Parent Reset Call
⭐Got screen time problems at home? Get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Download the Tech Reset Agreement
⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses)
The Single Parenting Reset Show supports single moms, working moms, and all parents with practical parenting tips on screen time, emotional regulation, co-parenting, stress relief, setting boundaries, building trust, and raising confident tweens and teens, while tackling tech addiction, behavior problems, and parent burnout with conscious parenting strategies for stronger family connection.
#singleparents #parentingtweensandteens #ScreenTime #behaviorproblems #Communication
