Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Author: Delaney Ruston, MD

Join Delaney Ruston, MD a leading authority on parenting in the screen age and the filmmaker behind the award-winning Screenagers movies as she explores the challenges parents face raising kids in today's digital world: think smartphones, social media, video games, and more. Through interviews with experts, thought leaders, and young people themselves, Parenting in the Screen Age delivers the latest science, practical tips, and key insights that parents will want to implement and share with their kids and teens.
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Language: en

Genres: Education, Kids & Family, Parenting, Self-Improvement

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Raising Independent Kids: The Issue of Phone Trackers with America's 'Worst' Mom (encore)
Monday, 18 May, 2026

Kids and teens are experiencing less independence than in the past — whether due to screen time, parents' fears of letting them roam freely, or other factors. It's a problem. But why? And what can be done? In this episode, host Dr. Delaney Ruston discusses this important topic with journalist Lenore Skenazy, who was labeled "America's Worst Mom" after letting her 9-year-old take the New York City subway home alone. Skenazy has spent years sounding the alarm on the harms of decreased youth autonomy, including co-founding Let Grow with psychologists Jonathan Haidt and Peter Gray. This episode explores the factors contributing to decreased independence and offers tools for parents and schools to combat this trend. It also examines the role of technology and tracking devices in this context, addressing both their benefits and potential pitfalls. This episode is intended for adult and teen audiences. Featured Expert Lenore Skenazy Books Free Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy Research References Mott Poll Report: Promoting children's Independence: What parents say vs do Media violence, physical aggression, and relational aggression in school age children: a short-term longitudinal study. (Aggressive Behavior) Additional Resources Lenore Skenazy's blog LetGrow.Org Time Code 00:00 Introduction 00:20 The Decline of Children's Autonomy 01:02 Challenges in Encouraging Independence 01:22 Parental Concerns and Media Influence 02:00 Exploring Solutions with Lenore Skenazy 02:39 Lenore's Controversial Parenting Decision 08:21 The Birth of Free Range Kids Movement 10:07 Statistics and Parental Fears 18:05 Let Grow Initiative and School Programs 22:34 Technology's Role in Children's Independence 32:44 Conclusion and Resources