Screen Less Play More

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Cynthia Dvorak

English Kids & Family Parenting

Apple Podcasts Spotify Website RSS

Episodes 40

Avg. Duration 49m

Activity Active

Apple Rating ★ 5.0 (14)

Since Apr 2025

Latest Episode May 2026

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Features Guests

Publishing Details

Schedule

Every 2 Weeks

Format

Episodic

Consistency

58%

Hosting

rss.pdrl.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

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/

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Recent Episodes

S2E17 How to Have a Low-Screen Summer (Without Constant Battles) | Simple Ideas That Actually Work!

May 20, 2026 26m Bonus

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…

S2E16 They Were Good Parents. Social Media Still Harmed Their Kids - What We Can Learn From Their Experience

May 11, 2026 32m

What is social media really doing to kids — and why are even loving, careful parents losing children to online harms? In this powerful episode of Screen Less Play More, Cynthia interviews the team…

S2E15 The Formula to Get Kids Off Screens Without a Fight | Michaeleen Doucleff on The 5 step "Dopamine Kids" Reset for Parents

Apr 22, 2026 55m

Are your kids melting down when screens turn off? Wondering how to reduce screen time without constant battles? In this eye-opening conversation, Michaeleen Doucleff (author of "Hunt, Gather, Parent"…

S2E14 Does Risky Play Scare You? Why Tree Climbing, Nature Play & Outdoor Freedom Help Kids Grow Safer and Stronger | Josée Bergeron

Apr 02, 2026 26m

Does risky play make you nervous as a parent? In this episode, we explore why tree climbing, nature play, outdoor freedom, and healthy risk-taking help kids become safer, stronger, more confident,…

S2E13 Why Kids Need Dirt, Danger, and the Outdoors (Even If They'd Rather Be on Screens)

Mar 11, 2026 29m

Are screens, busy schedules, and modern life keeping your kids indoors? In this episode of Screen Less Play More, Cynthia talks with "Backwoods Mama" Josée Bergeron, author of Beyond the Front Door,…

S2E12 Too Much Screen Time At School? Why Parents Are Suing Education Technology Apps - Emily Cherkin

Mar 04, 2026 11m Bonus

Why is educational technology at school different, and potentially more dangerous than screen time at home? Emily Cherkin explains why edtech is not the solution it promised to be. Kids are getting…

S2E11 5 Internet Safety Mistakes I Wish I'd Known About Sooner - What Every Parent Should Know

Feb 13, 2026 37m

Are your kids safe online? From social media oversharing to gaming chats and school apps, today's children are building a digital footprint from the day they're born. In this episode of Screen Less…

S2E10 Why Kids Who Delay Smartphones Don't Binge Later: Screen Addiction Myths, Safer Phones & Laws Protecting Kids Online | Part 2 with Clare Morell

Jan 08, 2026 25m

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…

S2E9 Screens Aren't Sugar, They're Fentanyl - Why Screentime "Moderation" Is Failing Our Kids

Jan 07, 2026 30m

Is a smartphone-free childhood the key to raising healthier, happier kids? Author Clare Morell explains that we have a metaphor problem when it comes to digital technology. A lot of people think that…

S2E8 How to Keep Tweens and Teens Safe Online - Without Tracking, Over-Monitoring, or Killing Independence | Parenting Coach Megan Saxelby

Dec 13, 2025 34m

How do you keep tweens and teens safe online without tracking their every move or destroying trust? Parenting coach Megan Saxelby joins us to talk about online safety, managing gaming and social…

S2E7 Parenting Teens Can Actually Be Great: Research-Backed Tools for Adolescence with Megan Saxelby

Dec 03, 2025 46m Transcript

Are you struggling to connect with your tween or teen—especially in a world dominated by screens, attitudes, and shifting moods? In this episode of Screen Less Play More, Cynthia Dvorak sits down…

S2E6 Fan Favorite Replay! Help! My Kids Are Addicted to Screens! | Executive Function Expert Michael McLeod on ADHD, Tech Use, & Better Parenting Strategies

Nov 26, 2025 57m

This encore episode remains one of the most replayed conversations in the Screen Less Play More vault. Are your kids addicted to screens—or does it feel like it? In this episode of Screen Less Play…

S2E5 Kids & AI: How To Keep Them Safe From Chatbots, Deepfakes, and A.I. Videos | Julia Storm of ReConnect

Nov 20, 2025 23m Transcript

AI safety for kids is key, and we have what parents need to know about chatbots, deepfakes, and digital literacy. Julia Storm of ReConnect debunks the myths around artificial intelligence and gives…

S2 "Hunt, Gather, Parent" | Book Bite | Why Yelling Doesn't Work & How To Get Kids To Help

Nov 07, 2025 9m Bonus

In this episode, we dive into Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff, exploring what modern parents can learn from the child-rearing practices of hunter-gatherer societies. Discover how less…

S2E5 Helping Boys Resist The Manosphere, and What The Heck Is It? | Julia Storm of ReConnect

Nov 05, 2025 32m

How do we raise boys in the age of Andrew Tate and other toxic masculinity influencers? Julia Storm explains what the Manosphere is and how we can protect our kids from it. Host Cynthia Dvorak and…

S2E4 The Hidden Consequences When Kids Don't Play, Climb, or Move Freely Anymore - Angela Hanscom

Oct 22, 2025 40m

What happens when kids don't get to move, climb, or play freely anymore? In this episode, Angela Hanscom, pediatric OT and author of Balanced and Barefoot, joins Screen Less Play More to talk about…

S2E3 Most replayed! Kids Are In A Digital Crisis - And What We Can Do | Kat Zilka of Dis/Connect

Oct 15, 2025 1h 13m

Kat Zilka was a high school teacher who realized that her students were in a real mental health crisis. She asked her students to write an essay about their relationship to their phones, and was…

S2E2 There's No Such Thing As Bad Weather - Rethinking Parenting With Linda Åkeson McGurk | Screen Less Play More

Oct 08, 2025 44m

"Instead of doing what's best for the kids, we're doing what's easier or most practical." - Linda Åkeson McGurk In this conversation, Cynthia and Linda Akeson McGurk explore the differences in…

S2E1 Parental Controls on Phones Are Failing and Here's What Parents Can Do Instead - Emily Cherkin

Oct 01, 2025 41m

What if the biggest mistake parents are making with technology is believing parental controls actually work? In this episode of Screen Less Play More, parenting educator and former middle school…

S1E21 The Anxious Generation | Quick Summary of The Main Points because You Don't Have Time To Read! | Screen Less Play More

Sep 26, 2025 13m Bonus

Welcome to "Book Bites" by Screen Less Play More. I know you're too busy stepping on Legos or driving to the grocery store to read a whole book. So I'm going to tell you the main takeaways of "The…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Screen Less Play More have?

Screen Less Play More has published 40 episodes since April 2025, covering topics in Kids & Family, Parenting.

Is Screen Less Play More still active?

Screen Less Play More is currently active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 49m.

How do I contact Screen Less Play More for sponsorship or guest appearances?