Episode 71: Are the digital distractions imprisoning your kid‘s mind?

Are the digital distractions imprisoning your child's mind and keeping them from the childhood discovery they are meant to have? Listen in to free your kid! 

 

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Mom Wellness recommended tips/tools:

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Full Transcription: 

Speaker 1 (00:00):

It's almost like an imprisonment that we are invoking on our children when we are not aware of how all of these influences that we must deal with today are impacting our children. So today's episode is going to be short and sweet, but I just want to talk about a topic that I think is worth thinking about as you move forward through the summer months, and as you start the school year with your kiddo. So stay tuned,

Speaker 2 (00:33):

Welcome to your source for tips, tools, and support to help you be that mom that is tuned in and proactive for yourself, your family, and for the wild ride of raising kids in this digital age, inspired by a mother's love with a relatable real life. Proud to be that mom flair. This is the bead that mom movement with your host, Dolly Denson,

Speaker 1 (00:58):

Holy Molly, check this out. Or a mom that is looking to give your kiddo a phone, but you don't want to open up the world of the smartphone to them yet. Check out the pinwheel phone. The pinwheel phone is the latest and greatest for dumb, smart phones. It gives you absolute control over what they do and who they can contact, and we'll help them to develop healthy habits around using a phone, check out pinwheel@pennwell.com use code be that mom 10 for a discount. So I think we can all agree that this whole digital parenting thing, if you've listened to me for any length of time in this podcast, or you've been doing any of your own research, we can all agree that there are many, many facets to this, and it is just so overwhelming at times. And it's also ever evolving. And how do I say it it's ever changing in, I guess it's the same thing as evolving, but it's moving in a fast pace and it's really hard to keep up with all of the little things, right?

Speaker 1 (01:57):

So a lot of times what I'm talking about is helping you to get a game plan in place that will kind of evolve and be fluid with the changes of the times new technology that comes out new things going on with your child's peer group, all of those things, right? Well, today I want to talk about something that I was reflecting on the other day, as I sat in the living room in the evening with my son, and he was watching a show that, you know, was talking about different things that he's interested in and telling me about these different things that he's researched about this, and really just kind of talking my ear off about all of these things that he's passionate about now. And I know that if you've listened to me for any length of time, you've heard me say this before, but I did all the wrong things initially, just out of ignorance, just out of not really having a game plan or knowing what to do.

Speaker 1 (02:52):

And also the fact that my kids were growing up, sorry about that notification. I got a update on my computer and I can't figure out how to turn off notifications now. So sorry for those going off. But I did all the wrong things because I didn't know what to do, but also my kids were growing up as this stuff was emerging or coming out and becoming more prevalent. And so it really was kind of a crash and burn type of situation for us. So if you have younger kids or in the midst of this, now take what I share and what other people share in this space and use it to help you navigate this better. But in the end, I think that, you know, it's all workable. We just need to be proactive in this space. So I was sitting next to him and I was thinking about this, how a couple of years ago, and even more than a couple of years ago, when we first introduced all the digital things to all three of the kids, I can see now looking back that it was kind of like a, what I want to say, like a draw or a suck away from other interests that they had.

Speaker 1 (03:55):

It was it's like it had more power on their mind and their interests than other things that they were interested in life. And I didn't realize it at the time. It was just one of those things. It was like, you know, we wanted to give them the gaming console and we wanted to give them the phone and to be able to reach us at any time and to be able to connect with their friends better. And it was, it was fun. It was exciting. It was, you know, my way of like feeling happy about giving them these things sounds ridiculous sometimes when I say that, but it was just how things were. And I didn't realize what was happening until much, much later. And I could see the trends over time of them drawing away from interests that they had as children in real life, tangible things in their lives to just do the digital things and also to pull away from regular communication conversation with family and friends, because it was easier to connect through the digital things.

Speaker 1 (04:55):

So what I'm getting at is I feel like it's almost like an imprisonment of their mind and what's sad and scary about it is if we're not aware of it. And we're not aware of all of these influences and the, all the facets of impact that this has. And we're giving these things at younger and younger and younger ages to entertain and to pacify the kids, or just because, you know, all the other moms and dads are giving these things and we want our kids to be liked and a part of the group, and to be able to communicate. And when they're in extracurricular activities and the organization is communicating through certain apps and different things, you know, we go along on this path. And what it seems is happening is that our kids' minds are being imprisoned in this digital age of distraction, to where they are kept from their full potential.

Speaker 1 (05:51):

And they are kept from newly discovering what they are meant to be who they are in the world. And as they are as a human being, what their true gift is for the world, because I feel like what it seems like is happening is that the digital things distract them so much that they don't do the normal childhood discovery things. They aren't allowed to be bored. Like they need to be in order to ignite that creativity and discovery that children are meant to have and to do into explore. And so as we have devices at younger and younger ages to entertain them while this doesn't have to be a completely bad thing, I think there needs to be a raised awareness that this is a pool and a time-suck that they often cannot resist, and they're going to be drawn to just naturally. So what I want to say is that we need to make a stand for our children for the future they're meant to have, and this may be kind of a redundant message of some of the things that I've said in other recent episodes, but it's just never been more prevalent to me more.

Speaker 1 (07:05):

What do I want to say? Like I've never realized this to the extent that I do right now while witnessing my own children go through a rediscovery of things that I allowed them to be disconnected from. Just because I did not know, I was not aware that this sort of thing could have such a draw. And also that these digital things were replacing the normal childhood things. So when they are given these things at younger and younger ages, and it kind of, it's almost like it stunts their mental development and their exploration of life and to helping them discover what they want to do with the world, what gifts they want to offer the world, what they're interested in for their profession and things such as that. I think to wrap this up, what I'm trying to say is that we need to have boundaries and guidance around using the digital things, be aware that there is an impact anytime that you give the device and that it can be replacing normal childhood things.

Speaker 1 (08:06):

And I think our ultimate goal needs to be that we get them to a point of maturity and development that they realize that there are amazing things in the world to be passionate about and to have interests in not just the digital things. And that's where I feel like I have gotten my youngest too, not all by myself, but, you know, just through the struggles that we have had, it has helped get him to a point where he has something he is so passionate about in the real life, real world, not just the digital world that he realizes when he does the digital things that it is taking away from that very real life activity and experience that he loves to do so much. And so he has found a way to balance what he does digitally with real life things and knows that what is going on in the real world, you know, in an activity is doing in the real world is there's so much more pleasure and reward that comes from that than spinning all the time, doing a game or, you know, social media and those types of things.

Speaker 1 (09:16):

I do allow him to do those things because he's at the point now where he's demonstrated maturity around it and he sets up his own boundaries for that. And I think that's what our ultimate goal is, is to help our children to discover all of the beauty in life and to find what they are interested in and what they want to do with their life and with their world, what gifts they want to offer to the world. That's our ultimate goal is to preserve that childhood discovery that they all deserve to have and not allow the digital things to suck them away or pull them away from those types of things. So ultimately that's going to come down to us, providing guidance, being proactive, and taking a stand for our children in the name of childhood development and discovery. So I hope you'll join me with that this summer, by not allowing them to have complete free rein of all the digital things without some form of game plan.

Speaker 1 (10:15):

So if you need a game plan, go back a few episodes. I did an episode about that. It's been really, really popular and has had a lot of listens. And if you do a search, I'm sure you can find some other people that are in this space that also have similar things that they offer for that in terms of having a game plan for the summer and in the next month or so, I'm going to have some episodes coming out that are going to be some different perspectives to kind of help you as we move into the school year and, you know, wrestle that whole thing around the digital things in them going to school. So I hope you found this helpful. I say that every single time, but I truly, truly do hope that you found this helpful and that you'll continue to stay tuned, subscribe to the podcast.

Speaker 1 (10:59):

If you haven't already leave me a review, if you can. That helps me get pushed up in the ranks on the podcast platforms. And I've seen mega growth in the number of listeners on my podcast in the last couple of months. And so I'm very grateful for that. I thank you so much for tuning in. I am always open to you sharing your story, your struggles, your successes, your perspective with me. So please reach out to me at any time. My email is dolly@dollydenson.com. You can also find me on Instagram at my main accounts, Dolly Denson. And then my podcast account is the underscore be that mom movement. And I also have a wellness account, which is, is kind of small, but it's Dolly Denson fit. And that's where I share wellness tips on my main page. I do as well. So I'm a nurse practitioner by day.

Speaker 1 (11:48):

And then I do this podcast on the side, and I also do a wellness coaching business where I help other women with similar lifestyles and struggles to simplify the whole fitness and nutrition thing. So if you're in need of that, certainly reach out to me for that. I'm also right now working on a couple of different things in functional medicine and integrative health to become certified in those realms to offer a deeper guidance and system for people to follow. If you're needing more help with the lifestyle things, if you have concerns for gut issues, gut health, different things like that, I am diving deep into all of those things so I can offer more things in that realm as well. So connect with me on social for those things. I'm also on telegram. You can find those links in the show notes. If you want to connect with me on there and keep tuning in and keep doing what you need to do to be that mom that is proactive for your kid.

Speaker 1 (12:45):

And that is not going to bow down to all of the digital things and all of the inner workings of social media and all of that stuff that are trying to impact our children in a negative way. So continue to be that mom and be that mom strong because your kid deserves the future they're meant to have, and you are the guide for that. And with the help of other moms and this podcast and all of the different resources out there that I share about all the time like bark and pinwheel and covenant eyes. And there's so many different things now that are so amazing. So check out my links in the show notes for all of those things together, we can build a village that is focused on the best future that our children are meant to have, and that we can make this a reality for our children, despite all of the impacts of the digital world, while also helping them to develop responsibility around what they do in the digital world. Okay. So thanks so much for tuning in again, and I'll chat with you next time.

Speaker 2 (13:47):

Thanks for tuning in being that mom isn't easy, but together we can be that mom's strong. Don't forget to leave a review, connect on social and join Dolly's free community till next time. Hey

Speaker 3 (14:00):

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