Screen Times and SmartPhones for Children - Best Practices - IC061

Why should dentists be talking about screen time with parents? Are smartphones safe for children? What is the right age to give a child their first phone? Laura Spells and Arabella Skinner (https://www.instagram.com/healthprosforsaferscreens/) join Jaz in this thought-provoking episode to tackle one of today’s biggest parenting challenges: smartphones and social media in young hands. Together they explore the impact of early phone use on children’s health, development, and mental wellbeing—and why healthcare professionals should be paying close attention.  Protrusive Dental Pearl: Live by your values—not your profession, spouse, or children. Don’t sacrifice for them; choose what aligns with you, so love never turns into resentment. Key Takeaways -Screen time is a significant public health concern. Mental health issues are rising due to social media exposure. -Early childhood screen time has long-term effects. Parents need clear guidance on screen time limits. -Community support is essential for children's well-being. -Health professionals must ask about screen time in assessments. -Regulatory changes are needed for safer screen use. -The impact of social media on self-esteem is profound. Misinformation about health trends can lead to dangerous practices among youth. -Dentists play a crucial role in educating patients about safe health practices. -Parents should engage in conversations about social media with their children. -Creating a family digital plan can help manage screen time effectively. -Collaboration among health professionals needs to raise awareness about the dangers of unregulated products. -Empowering parents with knowledge is essential for effective parenting in the digital age. -Role modeling healthy behaviors is important for parents. Highlights of this episode: 00:00 Teaser 01:18 Introduction 03:13 Pearl: Live by Your Values 04:54 Introducing Our Guests: Arabella and Laura Spells 09:24 Statistics and Scale of the Problem 18:09 Early Years and Screen Time 22:27 Safer Alternatives and Regulation 27:08 MIDROLL 30:29 Safer Alternatives and Regulation 30:53 Ideal Guidelines for Screen Usage 34:01 The Role of Dentists in Addressing Social Media Issues 44:59 Parental Guidance and Digital Plans 53:53 Final Thoughts and Resources 56:06 Outro ✅ Action Steps 🔹Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey for habits that support balanced parenting and leadership. Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/4qhXcib 🔹 Kindred Squared School Readiness Survey on how early screen use impacts child development. (https://kindredsquared.org.uk/school-readiness-survey) (https://kindredsquared.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/School-Readiness-Survey-January-2025-Kindred-Squared.pdf) 🔹 Follow Health Professionals for Safer Screens for practical tips to share with families, and on their Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/healthprosforsaferscreens/) for bite-sized advice ((https://healthprofessionalsforsaferscreens.org/) 🔹 Support the Smartphone-Free Childhood Campaign to delay smartphone use in children. (https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org) If this episode gave you new insights, you’ll definitely benefit from Parenthood and Dentistry (Even if You’re Not a Parent!) – IC025 (https://youtu.be/FRP3vUQQdQI?si=B3x89IzMwwZSykoF) #InterferenceCast #BeyondDentistry #Communication This episode is eligible for 0.75 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance (https://protrusive.co.uk/ultimate). ----------------------------------- Apply for FREE access to the Nicest and Geekiest Dental Community in the World 🌍 https://protrusive.app - it’s absolutely Free We also have paid plans so you can Claim Verifiable CPD/CE + EXCLUSIVE content: https://protrusive.app 🔊 Subscribe on Apple: https://protrusive.co.uk/apple 🔊 Subscribe on Spotify: https://protrusive.co.uk/spotify 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protrusivedental/ Online Courses: 😬 Learn Occlusion Online: https://occlusion.online/ 📚 Learn TMD and Occlusal Appliances: https://www.splintcourse.com 🦷 Gain Confidence with Resin Bonded Bridges: https://rbbmasterclass.com 🎒 Learn Vertipreps, Rubber Dam and More: https://protrusive.co.uk/ultimate Life by KV /kvmusicprod Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 Free Download / Stream: https://www.audiolibrary.com.co/kv/life Music promoted by Audio Library Life – KV (No Copyright Music)