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Screen Less Play More

Screen Less Play More

By: Cynthia Dvorak
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Summary
 Parenting doesn't have to feel overwhelming — especially when it comes to screens. Screen Less Play More is the podcast that helps modern parents raise healthy, balanced, and confident kids in a world dominated by technology. Hosted by Cynthia Dvorak, each episode blends practical strategies, expert interviews, and the latest child-development research on screen time, play, mental health, digital habits, and healthy tech boundaries. You'll learn how to reduce screen use without power struggles, encourage independent and imaginative play, and support your child's development from the baby years through the teen years. We will give you screen free activities to try, as well as book recommendations on the best parenting books about screen time. If you've ever wondered how to manage phones, gaming, social media, or kids' tech requests — or how to bring back more free play, outdoor time, creativity, and childhood joy — this show gives you clear, realistic answers. Discover why unstructured play and risky play boosts emotional resilience, how nature supports healthy brain development, and what parents can do to prevent screen overuse, digital addiction, and burnout. This is the place for busy moms and dads to learn about digital health, healthy screen habits, and how to manage kids and technology. We give you ideas for screen-free activities, screen-free Sunday, and family dinner. We cover topics from friluftsliv outdoor lifestyle, to critical thinking for kids, to screen free entertainment. We also cover EdTech and it's influence on modern schools, why you might want to opt-out, and how to manage Chromebooks and laptops in the classroom. Ed Tech is not technology education, and we explain the difference to you and how kids can learn valuable media literacy. We also stress the importance of bell to bell cell phone bans in schools, as well as why more play and recess can be the solution to slumping test scores. Cynthia uses her experience as a mom of two neurodivergent boys to help you manage screen time in regards to ADHD, autism, Asperger syndrome, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and other learning differences. She knows what works for her family, and will help yours too! You'll hear episodes on: Age-appropriate screen time guidelines The negative effects of too much screen time. Helping kids who are struggling with gaming or social media, including addiction. Building healthier tech habits as a family. What are the recommended screen time limits for children by age? Play-based learning, Montessori/Waldorf/Reggio Emilia and homeschool approaches. Encouraging outdoor play in all weather. Is social media safe? Can I make social media safe? What are the best parental controls for smartphones? How to make room for boredom, creativity, and independence How to reduce screen time without fights. Raising resilient, curious, emotionally healthy kids. Simple, screen-free activities toddlers, preschoolers, and older kids love, plus the screen-free toys you can use to get some rest as a parent. Whether you're parenting babies, toddlers, elementary kids, tweens, or teens, Screen Less Play More gives you inspiring ideas and relatable conversations to help your family thrive. If you're a busy parent wanting more connection, more play, and fewer tech battles — you're in the right place. Take a listen, screen a little less, and play a little more — your kids' childhood depends on it. Website: screenlessplaymore.com Instagram & Facebook: @screenlessplaymore screenless playmore YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScreenLessPlayMore Substack: https://screenlessplaymorepodcast.substack.com/2025 Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • It's Time To Raise Better Men: What Can Parents Do in the Age of Violent Porn, AI Girlfriends, and the Manosphere

    It's Time To Raise Better Men: What Can Parents Do in the Age of Violent Porn, AI Girlfriends, and the Manosphere
    Oct 20 2026
    I'm mad at men right now. Really mad. And I'm guessing you might be too. The allegations against the Cornell 7 exploded just a couple days after I recorded this interview with Dr. Leonard Sax about his book "Boys Adrift." And reading about that attack unearthed some rage about the incidious harrassment that I, and most women, have been tolerating for decades. Then I suddenly thought, "wait a minute, a podcast episode about the plight of boys and young men is going to seem completely tone deaf and insensitive right now." But when I went back to listen to my conversation with Dr. Sax, I realized that this is, in fact, the perfect time to talk about boys. Because the men that harassed me for decades, the men that hurt many of you out there, and the men that terrorized Jane Doe, were once young boys. I don't know exactly how those boys became who they became.... But the boys of TODAY, the ones in your house right now who are playing with Legos and talking about Minecraft... those are the ones who will potentially be radicalized even faster, younger, and more intensely by the toxic temptations of modern technology – specificallly violent pornography, AI girlfriends, and the Manosphere. This stuff is dangerous, and it's at the fingertips of every child with a computer, a tablet, or a cell phone. Dr. Sax has some general things to say about the growing epidemic of unmotivated young men, but most importantly, he has some eye-opening information about these new technologies that are targeting and wreaking havoc on a generation of boys. So here is my conversation with the author of "Boys Adrift," Dr. Leonard Sax. - who I would like to thank for being so patient through some major technical difficulties as we were recording – and I also want to thank you listeners for being patient if the sound quality is a little more uneven than usual. In this episode, we explore: Pornography, AI girlfriends, and the manosphere: Three emerging influences Dr. Sax identifies as important factors in understanding boys' struggles today. Boys and school motivation: Why some boys seem disengaged from academics while their parents struggle to understand what went wrong. Is school working for boys? How early academic expectations, discipline, and limited room for developmentally appropriate behavior can affect a boy's relationship with learning. The consequences of school suspension: Dr. Sax discusses research linking suspension with a significantly increased risk of later incarceration. How to evaluate your son's school: Practical questions parents can ask to better understand whether boys are being encouraged to succeed. Why this matters to all of us: How the experiences and influences shaping boys today may affect the adults—and relationships—they build tomorrow. If you're raising a boy, worried about his screen time, concerned about online misogyny, or wondering why he seems less motivated than you expected, this conversation will give you important questions to consider. Is it failure to launch, or something more? Because raising boys in the digital age means more than managing screen time. It means understanding what they're watching, and who they're turning to for connection. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Sax, author of Boys Adrift: The Six Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men Read more at Screenlessplaymore.com Screen Less Play More Podcast is the best parenting podcast about screen time, phone readiness, screen limits, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and parenting in the digital age!
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    35 mins
  • Your Kids Aren't the Only Ones at Risk: How to Protect Your Parents From Cyber Scams

    Your Kids Aren't the Only Ones at Risk: How to Protect Your Parents From Cyber Scams
    Sep 16 2026

    At the same time that you try to keep your kids safe in the digital world, you may be asking "How can I protect my own parents from online scams?"

    Seniors are a prime target of cyber scams. They grew up trusting that a phone call, email, or letter was legitimate - but they also can have large bank accounts and a lot to lose.

    The older people in your life are getting duped by:
    Fake grandkids calling for money.
    Fake banks asking for transfers.
    Fake IRS officials texting for social security numbers.
    Fake I.T. companies asking them to click dangerous links.


    It's only getting worse in the age of AI.

    And sometimes the hardest part isn't stopping the scam. It's getting your parent to tell you it happened.

    I have personally seen older family members scammed out of thousands of dollars, and I want to see this stop. So, I made the newest episode of Screen Less Play More podcast with Kae David and Chad Rychlewski, authors of Cyber-Smart Caregiving: Protecting Your Parents In The Digital Age. Available now on Amazon!

    We discuss:

    How to protect your parents from online scams, fraud, text scams, email scams, and phone scams. As well as AI scams, voice spoofing, and deepfakes.

    How to bring up the topic and talk to older people about how to stay safe online and what to watchout for.

    What conversations to have with your parents BEFORE they get taken advantage of.

    What to do if your parent is being scammed.

    What to do once a scam has occurred. Can I get my money back? Should I call the cops?

    What are the common and popular scams going on in cybersecurity right now? What to be aware of.

    How to avoid common elderly scams.

    Should our family have a safe word?

    How do I know if a call or text or email is legit and real as opposed to a fake?

    How do I do a tech audit?

    Protecting your elderly and older parents from financial scams is super important in the modern age. This podcast episode makes it easy for you and your family to understand what is at risk, how to discuss the issue together, and how to handle the fallout once a scam has happened. Grandparents need protection too!

    Screen Less Play More is the best parenting podcast about reducing screen time, staying safe online, keeping kids safe in the digital age, understanding the importance of play, how to get your kids to go outside more, how to get your kids to play, and how to keep kids balanced and thriving!

    For more parenting resources please check out https://screenlessplaymore.com/ and https://screenlessplaymorepodcast.substack.com/

    Thanks so much for listening! If you find this episode helpful, share it with your sibling!
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    41 mins
  • How to Have a Low-Screen Summer (Without Constant Battles) | Simple Ideas That Actually Work!

    How to Have a Low-Screen Summer (Without Constant Battles) | Simple Ideas That Actually Work!
    May 20 2026

    Are you worried summer will turn into endless screen time battles? In this episode, Cynthia sits down with screen time expert and Better Screen Time founder Andrea Davis to share practical, realistic ways families can create a low-screen summer without stress, guilt, or perfection.

    In this replay episode, Andrea gives parents the top 4 questions to ask your kids when school ends and you start your plan.... or when summer gets into a slump midway through.

    Andrea explains how to reduce kids' screen time by filling summer with meaningful activities, simple routines, hands-on hobbies, outdoor play, family goals, and boredom-friendly ideas that actually work. From toddlers to teens, this conversation is packed with actionable parenting strategies for creating healthier tech habits during summer break.

    You'll learn:

    • How to create a family summer screen time plan
    • Why boredom can move kids towards meaningful hobbies
    • Screen-free summer activity ideas for toddlers, kids, and teens
    • How to reduce screen time without constant fighting
    • Why screen time shouldn't be used as a reward
    • Healthy phone boundaries for teenagers
    • The best low-effort activities that keep kids occupied longer, note: open-ended toys are golden!
    • How to encourage creativity, independence, and real-world skills
    • Ways to help kids build healthier relationships with technology

    Andrea also shares:

    • Her "When You Want to Do Nothing" boredom-buster list
    • Tips for collaborative family tech planning
    • How to handle summer phone expectations with teens
    • Why open-ended play matters more than expensive entertainment

    If you're looking for practical screen time tips, low-screen summer ideas, healthy digital habits, or realistic parenting advice for raising kids in the digital age, this episode is for you.

    Perfect for parents of toddlers, elementary-age kids, tweens, and teens navigating:

    • summer break
    • screen addiction concerns
    • smartphone boundaries
    • boredom complaints
    • social media limits
    • family tech rules
    • healthier routines for kids

    Guest: Andrea Davis, founder of Better Screen Time
    Host: Cynthia Dvorak founder of Screen Less Play More

    For more on parenting in the digital age, visit ScreenLessPlayMore.com and the Screen Less Play More substack

    What's the best parenting podcast? Screen Less Play More!

    screenless playmore
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    26 mins
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