Lately, it feels like every day we wake up to another “groundbreaking” AI tool being released. As a mom and digital wellness educator, I’ve learned to pay close attention to these new technologies for how they might impact our children's developing sense of reality and trust. Two recent releases in particular have me concerned: OpenAI’s new Sora app and Meta’s latest AI-powered tools.

There are many AI related topics to tackle, but today I want to focus solely on kids relationships with AI companions. In this post I will break down what they are, where kids are finding them and what the research is showing about the potential risks. I will also, as always, leave you with strategies for being your kids’ ally and mentor, setting healthy boundaries and broaching open and curious conversations.

Music is now, almost exclusively, connected to a screen and many parents don’t want their kids staring at a device all the time - especially alone in their rooms. So what are we parents supposed to do? Here are my updated research and recommendations when it comes to giving your kids screen-free music.

We are in an era where information spreads at lightning speed with no context or verification to help people assess whether it is true. Children are especially susceptible to believing what they see and hear, particularly if the message is encased in a brief, shocking or entertaining snippet - they can feel smart and informed without doing any of the work. So, if your child has access to YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Discord, X or any other social sharing platform it’s time for some parental guidance.

The holidays are a great time for bonding with family and catching up with friends. But all that free time can also lead to three weeks of constant battles over screen time. Let’s look at a few ways to curb the tantrums and bring peace to your home this holiday season.

What is the “manosphere” and what influence is it having on our son’s perceptions of masculinity? In this article I define the manosphere and look at what led to the rise of this extremely influential, hate filled ideology. If you don’t think your son has been touched by this, think again. These influencers are everywhere - from YouTube to TikTok to Discord and Twitch. If your tween or teen son is online, they’re exposed.

Kids are spending way more time online in the past year and for many this means time in multiplayer games, online chat forums or social media platforms where strangers and friends mingle. If your child is spending time in Roblox, Minecraft, Discord, TikTok or any other social platform, they need to learn how to spot a potential child predator early.