9. Why Screens Feel Regulating (But Might Not Be)

Some say screen time is “regulating”… and honestly, it can look that way.

In this episode, we slow the conversation down—no shame, no judgment—and unpack why screens can feel like the only thing that works when your child is overwhelmed. But we also zoom out and ask the bigger question: is that calm actually regulation… or is something else happening?

I’ll share a personal story that changed how I see this, plus a research angle every parent of an ADHD (or otherwise neurodivergent) kid should hear.

Get our new 1 hour screen time workshop in The Connection Hive here: yourkidstable.com/tch

*Are you a therapist, this resource will also be in The Therapist All Access Membership: yourkidstable.com/taam

Key Timestamps:

01:06 No guilt, no judgment—why this is so confusing

04:40 Why screens work in the moment

10:21 Calm vs. regulation

13:51 A personal story that shifted my perspective

20:40 The research that links screentime to dysregulation

22:42 What to do next if screens are becoming a struggle

Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/

MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU

Ready for a simple plan to overcome the attention, sleep, sensory, and big emotion challenges? I'll show you how for uniquely wired kids 1-18 years old in just 2-5 minutes a day. Join me in The Connection Hive-- https://YourKidsTable.com/TCH

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