Hi, welcome to Think! Create! & Grow!, the Bestie Wonderland podcast, Episode 1. I’m otherwise known as Miss Bubbles. I’m an educator, a mom of three, and I also like to drink my matcha tea—sometimes I get to drink it when it’s still hot! And this is my co-creator and best friend, better known as Miss Bright, a cognitive development and special needs specialist.
We’re so excited to be able to share this podcast with you. We’re going to be talking about some really interesting things that are relative to parents and hopefully give you guys some good tips on how you can help your little ones think, create, and grow going forward.
That’s right. So we know that screen time should be more about wonder and less about screens—but we want to find a way to do it guilt-free, to use screens and technology in a really positive way that can inspire kids to grow and think and learn. So we’re going to be here to support other families just like ourselves—we’re learning too—and to share those things within our positive, upbuilding community.
So join us for Episode 1 of Think! Create! & Grow!, the Bestie Wonderland podcast, as we tackle the controversial topic of screen time. Alright—here we go!
Okay, so why should you be listening today while you’re doing your laundry, or the dishes, or taking care of kids? Well, that’s because you’re about to get clear and guilt-free screen time guidelines.
We’ll talk about why screens are really so addictive, the science behind it, and swaps that help with those really difficult transitions sometimes. And we’ll share a realistic tool that you can start using today—just like we’ve started using!
And you may be asking yourself, why should you stay till the end? Well, at the end of this segment, we’ll be sharing some helpful routines that you can start implementing immediately in your families to help with that screen time management.
And next week, we’ll be talking about boredom—how boredom is so important for young ones to use their imaginations and be creative, and how you can kind of hold out through that boredom period. Because sometimes that’s really hard when they say they’re bored and you don’t know how to support them.
So we’ll be talking about that in Episode 2! We hope you stay around for this short and very informative podcast—Think! Create! & Grow! the Bestie Wonderland podcast.
Yes! Let’s get into it now.
So today we want to start talking about our kids’ brains and how they’re developing in the first five years.
So from ages 0–5, the brain is really starting to develop some interesting pathways and higher-level thinking—like focus, patience, and emotional control.
Yeah, and I think we can see that when we’re interacting with our young ones. Sometimes they can go from being really calm and collected to extreme frustration because they didn’t get the toy they want, or their brother or sister’s having issues with sharing—those types of things.
And in preparation for this podcast, I found some really interesting data from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
They did some brain scans on kids in that age group—0 to 5—and found that too much fast-paced screen time can actually make their language development and focus skills grow slower.
Goodness!
Yeah! And that made me think about how important conversation is for our kids, right?
Because on a screen, they’re getting a unilateral approach where the screen is giving them all the content—but they’re not learning the rules of grammar or syntax that they would get from live conversation with parents or peers.
Right—no one’s really talking back to them. So even if they interact with the show, they’re not hearing someone actually reacting to them and modeling how to speak and respond.
Exactly. And another interesting point from Harvard University—they found that screens can make transitions extra hard for our little ones.
We’ve all had the experience when we shut the screen off and there’s a meltdown. The reason for that is, the brain goes from a high-speed flood of dopamine—so much information being given to them—to nothing, zero, with no warning. That causes an emotional response that’s actually harder than if they were doing something off-screen.
That makes sense. I even feel that way sometimes when I have to turn the TV off or stop watching something—it is a transition!
So what I’m hearing you say is that when kids have meltdowns when we turn the screen off, it’s not necessarily them misbehaving—it’s their bodies reacting to the science.
Exactly!
But let’s talk now about real parent struggles. As real parents, we know screens can actually save our lives sometimes. If we need to cook dinner and get it on the table quickly, we might need to put on something we’re comfortable with—maybe educational, something quality for our kids.
Or sometimes we’re just overstimulated and need quiet time—some “quiet mommy time.”
And of course, there’s always the luxury of getting to the bathroom by yourself!
Yes! When you have little ones, that can be hard to come by.
Exactly. You don’t realize how important that time in the bathroom alone is until you have a child. Before kids—BC, before children!
Exactly! So we need to recognize that survival mode is something we all have to do.
This space isn’t to judge how anyone uses screens, but to provide opportunities to make better, more intentional choices and swaps.
Right. And I have a tween—she’s 12—so right now she’s pretty responsible for selecting what she watches or how she interacts with screens. But something I really want to improve on is time limits, even at 12.
If I say she has an hour of screen time, I want to stay consistent and follow through.
Absolutely. Having those discussions where expectations are clear really helps.
Mm-hmm. But sometimes, as you know, it doesn’t always end up being a win—it can be a battle, especially when they’re younger or tired. It helps to ask questions.
For example, my youngest—she’s three—really wanted to use a tablet during piano practice. I was confused—why would you use a tablet while playing piano? But my oldest daughter (the “toddler translator”) realized she wanted to use a program that plays music in real time so she could play along on her piano and follow the notes.
If I hadn’t asked, I would’ve said no, and she would’ve been frustrated.
Yes! And sometimes as parents we have to weigh—what’s the most important use of our time right now? Is it processing a meltdown or understanding what they’re trying to communicate?
Parenting today means finding balance in a digital world—it’s not like when we were kids in the ‘80s or ‘90s!
Okay, so here’s our three-part screen time routine for you to try:
Step 1: Before Screens → Connect.
Give your child at least five minutes of undivided attention. No phone, no distractions—just be present. Talk, play, or do a quick craft.
Explain clearly what the screen time will be, what they’ll do, and how long it’ll last.
Step 2: During Screens → Interact.
Stay present. Ask questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think the creator made it that way?”
This helps them think, reason, and engage with stories—not just stare passively.
Step 3: After Screens → Play It Out.
Give time warnings before turning off the screen. Then talk about how you can turn that show into play.
If they watched an adventure show, maybe they can turn it into a rescue mission with their toys or dress up and act it out.
Let their imagination take flight!
So just to recap—
Connect and set clear guidelines.
Interact and stay present.
Play it out afterward.
That combination helps smooth transitions, enrich learning, and inspire imagination.
Exactly. Give it a try and let us know how it goes! We love hearing success stories.
And remember—you don’t have to do it every time. Even trying it sometimes can make a real difference.
When you use this three-part activity—connect, interact, and play it out—you lessen the dopamine crash and reduce tantrums.
And the fewer tantrums, the better!
That’s right!
So next time on Think! Create! & Grow! we’ll talk about how screens aren’t the enemy—but disconnected screens can steal childhood imagination. We’ll look at what really builds creativity and growth, and we already have an idea: boredom!
The good kind! Millennial moms—we were bored a lot, and it was healthy!
Exactly—character building! So we’ll be talking about that in our next episode.
We just want to say thank you for joining us for our first-ever episode. We’re so honored and grateful you’re here.
You can download your own copy of the Screen Time Swaps & Balance Guide and subscribe to our blog at BestieWonderland.com.
That’s right! We’ll share the link in our bio, too, so you can subscribe and not miss any of our free, helpful guides.
And don’t miss next week’s episode: The Power of Play — Why Boredom Builds Brilliance.
Remember, screens don’t raise kids—connection from loving adults like you does.
Absolutely. Think, create, and grow together—to build a brighter and kinder tomorrow.
