Screen Less Play More
Screen Less Play More
Podcast Description
Parenting doesn't have to be this hard! Screen Less Play More Podcast will help you raise balanced, thriving kids in the digital age.
We give you the latest research on play, screen time, children's health, and technology... and hopefully a laugh or two!
We believe that kids need to return to the play-based childhood of the past and get rid of the phone-based childhood that is causing so much anxiety and addiction.
So take a listen, screen a little less, and play a little more!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes centered around child development, screen time management, and the impact of technology on youth, with episodes addressing critical topics such as the effects of digital communication on relationships and personalized approaches to educational success, including preparation for standardized testing.
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/
What happens if kids don’t get smartphones or social media growing up—will they binge later? In this episode of Screen Less Play More, Cynthia continues her conversation with Clare Morell, author of The Tech Exit, to debunk one of the biggest parenting myths about kids and technology.
Clare explains why delaying smartphones actually helps kids develop self-regulation, healthier habits, and awareness around screen use—often making them less likely to overuse technology as young adults. Drawing on interviews with families and college students, she shows how childhood habits shape lifelong relationships with screens.
This episode also dives into practical alternatives to smartphones for kids, including child-safe phones like Pinwheel, Gabb, Bark, and Wisephone, plus realistic boundaries parents still need even with “safer” devices. Cynthia and Clare discuss modeling healthy phone use, teaching real-world life skills, and replacing screen privileges with meaningful independence and responsibility.
Finally, Clare breaks down new legislation and policy efforts to protect kids online, including age-verification laws, pornography restrictions, and proposals to raise the legal age for social media. You’ll learn what states are already doing, why moderation alone isn’t enough, and how collective solutions can make parenting easier. The LA wallet in Louisiana is an amazing prototype of how other states can keep kids safe from porn, and let adults keep their annonymity.
If you’re navigating parenting without smartphones, worried about screen addiction, or looking for safer ways to help kids grow up offline in a digital world, this episode offers clarity, research-backed insight, and hope. This is helpful wether you have toddlers, elementary kids, tweens, or teens. And Clare reminds us that it is never too late!
More about Screen Less Play More, the best parenting podcast about play and tech at:
https://screenlessplaymore.com/
https://substack.com/@screenlessplaymore?utm_source=user-menu
Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ScreenLessPlayMore
More about Clare’s book “The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones” at https://sites.prh.com/thetechexitbook
Welcome to the Screen Less Play More podcast — your go-to parenting show for raising balanced, confident kids in the digital age by reducing screen time, managing gaming and social media, and restoring play-based childhoods. Hosted by Cynthia Dvorak of ScreenLessPlayMore.com, we share expert advice and research-backed strategies to help parents create healthy screen habits, set realistic tech boundaries, and build stronger family connection without constant monitoring or power struggles. Each episode gives you practical tools for screen time battles, online safety for kids, age-appropriate digital limits, and the benefits of free play, outdoor play, and imaginative play so your children can thrive both online and offline.
What’s the best parenting podcast about play and screens? Check out the top 6 episodes from 2025 of Screen Less Play More : https://screenlessplaymore.com/top-rated-parenting-podcast-episodes-of-the-year-our-most-listened-most-loved-conversations/
Thanks for listening! If you click “follow” you’ll make sure to never miss an episode!
Chapters:
00:00 Debunking Myths About Technology Use 03:51 Modeling Responsible Technology Use 05:50 Exploring Alternatives to Smartphones 08:58 Legislative Efforts for Online Safety 13:37 Empowering Kids with Real-World Responsibilities 20:03 Advocating for National Legislation on Social Media 24:48 Introduction to Screen Less Play More 24:49 The Importance of Screen Time Management
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