05/20/2026
Comment BORED to get my free Summer Activity List for those “Mom/Dad, I’m bored!” moments ☀️
Comment CHECK to get my free Before-Screen-Time Checklist ✔️
Comment BOOK to read my #1 New Release book *Don’t Burn Your Own House Down: Prioritizing Your Marriage, Your Spouse and Yourself for a Deeper Connection” for a more connected home (especially Chapter 5: More Scrolling, More Problems).
One thing I’ve become really intentional about over the last few years is helping my boys understand the difference between real dopamine and screen dopamine. It wasn’t easy at first, but it has completely changed the way our days feel.
Real dopamine is what your child feels when they build a fort and live in it all afternoon, catch their first firefly in a jar, ride their bike until dark, or finally accomplish something they’ve been practicing for days.
There’s something different about joy that is earned.
When dopamine is connected to movement, creativity, challenge, and real life experiences, it becomes embodied and it sticks.
But screen dopamine is different. It’s fast, unearned, passive, and it often comes with a crash afterward.
Research continues to show concerning patterns. Heavy screen use has been linked to changes in areas of the brain involved in learning and processing the world around us, and studies following thousands of children found higher screen use was associated with increased behavioral issues, depression, and ADHD symptoms.
The encouraging part is this: our influence as parents matters more than we think.
When we fill their days with movement, boredom, creativity, adventure, sunshine, and connection, their brains begin adjusting to real life rewards again.
I’ve experienced this firsthand with Sutton and Saxon: when they’ve had a full day of real life, they stop asking for screens because screens are less appealing than sunshine, connection and real life.
The kids who learn to create their own joy are carrying a gift that will serve them for life.
You are not the mean parent for holding the line. You are doing hard work now for a reward later.
Comment BOOK, BORED and/or CHECK below and make this summer one they actually remember. 💛