128. How Do You Decide Which Digital Media and Apps Your Child Can Use? with Dr. Katie Davis

Are you struggling to navigate the world of technology as a parent? Many parents find it a challenge to balance wanting their child to have access to educational resources and worrying about the potential negative effects of screen time. Today, Dr. Katie Davis is joining me to discuss how we can help our children use digital media in a meaningful and positive way.

Dr. Katie Davis is an Associate Professor at the University of Washington (UW) and Director of the UW Digital Youth Lab. For nearly twenty years, she has been researching the impact of digital technologies on young people’s learning, development, and well-being. In her latest book, Technology’s Child: Digital Media’s Role in the Ages and Stages of Growing Up, Dr. Davis brings clarity to what we know about technology’s role in child development and provides guidance on how to help children of all ages make the most of their digital experiences.

Join us as we discuss how we as parents can help their children and teens navigate the digital media world, how she makes decisions about what apps her child uses, digital media legislature, and the good enough digital parent.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What research Dr. Katie Davis does and what she hopes to accomplish with her research
• What it means to play with loose parts versus digital play 
• How she selects what digital media and apps her child uses 
• The difference between digital media as a whole and social media
• What she would include in technology designed for children and teens if she was a technology designer
• The Locus app and how it works
• Legislation surrounding digital media specifically as it pertains to children and teens
• What the good enough digital parent is

Resources:

• Dr. Katie Davis’ Website
• Katie’s Book: Technology’s Child: Digital Media’s Role in the Ages and Stages of Growing Up
• How my research group is trying to make social media better for teens - The Locus App
• Should screen-free be the goal for families?
• 5 key ideas from the APA’s new social media health advisory
• Will the U.S. pass legislation to protect children online?
• What’s better for kids’ play, digital or analog loose parts?
• Khan Academy Kids

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Disclaimer: This podcast does not provide medical advice. The information on this podcast is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 

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