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Good Inside with Dr. BeckyGood Inside with Dr. Becky

A Different Take on Screen Time

We all know too much screen time isn’t good for kids—and our instinct as parents is to protect them from it. But when fear shapes how we manage screens at home, it can quickly turn into shame the moment they pick one up. In today’s world, where screens are woven into so much of daily life, the real challenge is to face that reality with thoughtfulness - and to make choices guided by our values, not by guilt. In this episode, Dr. Becky sits down with screen time expert **Ash Brandon, EdS (@thegamereducator)** to talk about the moral judgments, practical boundaries, and family-specific choices that shape our approach to screens. Get the Good Inside App by Dr. Becky: https://bit.ly/4fSxbzk Your Good Inside membership might be eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement! To learn more about how to get your membership reimbursed, check out the link here: https://www.goodinside.com/fsa-hsa-eligibility/ Follow Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside Sign up for our weekly email, Good Insider: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter For a full transcript of the episode, go to [goodinside.com/podcast](http://goodinside.com/podcast). When it comes to school snacks, I’ve never been the “pack my kid a portable charcuterie board” kind of parent. If you are, more power to you. I’m more of a “grab-and-go” type - I want something simple, nutritious, and easy for my kids to reach for as we’re heading out the door. That’s why I like Chomps. Their full-size meat sticks have 10 grams of protein and zero sugar. They’re filling and made from real ingredients, so it’s one less thing to think about. And if you’ve ever opened your kid’s backpack to find a half-eaten snack from who-knows-when still wrapped up in there, Chomplings are great. They’re smaller sticks (the right size to toss in a lunchbox or that little front backpack pocket) with 4 grams of protein and zero sugar. Chomps are made of high-quality ingredients like 100% grass-fed beef, venison, and antibiotic-free turkey. They’re also free from the top nine allergens, so you don’t have to worry about sending them to school. Check out all the sizes and delicious flavors at Chomps.com/DRBECKY for 15% off plus free shipping. We say it all the time at Good Inside: Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish - it’s self-sustaining. But let’s be honest: Self-care can feel impossible without reliable childcare. That’s where Sittercity comes in. It’s a trusted platform that makes it easier to find sitters who are kind, experienced, and show up when you need them. You can read real parent reviews, connect with sitters directly, and even set up interviews, all in one spot. Whether you’re craving a solo errand run, a date night out, or need after school support, Sittercity can give you the logistical support you need to show up for yourself. Find a sitter or nanny that’s perfect for your family at sittercity dot com and use code "goodinside" for 25% off the annual or quarterly premium subscription plans. Use promocode: goodinside [**https://www.sittercity.com/?utm_source=cp&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast-may2025&utm_content=goodinside**](https://www.sittercity.com/?utm_source=cp&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast-may2025&utm_content=goodinside) If you’re anything like me, you’re running out of summer activity ideas for your kids! Well, exciting news for parents everywhere: Good Inside just teamed up with the Play-Doh brand and Walmart to bring you a video series on how to help kids build life-long skills like imagination, confidence, and frustration tolerance - all through open-ended play! The best part: I promise this isn’t another thing to add to your already packed plate as a parent. No hours of prep, no need for picture-perfect setups. All you need is a Play-Doh can or two. *We also made a guide with “5 Steps to Open-ended Play” that you can literally download* *on the Good Inside blog* *and try today. (Full disclosure: I printed the guide out and stuck it on my fridge as a reminder for myself - after all, my kids get “mom” at home, not Dr. Becky!)* Head to walmart.com/playdoh to watch the videos. That’s walmart.com/playdoh.  I can’t wait to hear what your kid creates.

Dr. BeckyhostAsh Brandonguest
Aug 12, 202541mWatch on YouTube ↗

Episode Details

EPISODE INFO

Released
August 12, 2025
Duration
41m
Channel
Good Inside with Dr. Becky
Watch on YouTube
▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

We all know too much screen time isn’t good for kids—and our instinct as parents is to protect them from it. But when fear shapes how we manage screens at home, it can quickly turn into shame the moment they pick one up. In today’s world, where screens are woven into so much of daily life, the real challenge is to face that reality with thoughtfulness - and to make choices guided by our values, not by guilt. In this episode, Dr. Becky sits down with screen time expert **Ash Brandon, EdS (@thegamereducator)** to talk about the moral judgments, practical boundaries, and family-specific choices that shape our approach to screens. Get the Good Inside App by Dr. Becky: https://bit.ly/4fSxbzk Your Good Inside membership might be eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement! To learn more about how to get your membership reimbursed, check out the link here: https://www.goodinside.com/fsa-hsa-eligibility/ Follow Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside Sign up for our weekly email, Good Insider: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter For a full transcript of the episode, go to [goodinside.com/podcast](http://goodinside.com/podcast). When it comes to school snacks, I’ve never been the “pack my kid a portable charcuterie board” kind of parent. If you are, more power to you. I’m more of a “grab-and-go” type - I want something simple, nutritious, and easy for my kids to reach for as we’re heading out the door. That’s why I like Chomps. Their full-size meat sticks have 10 grams of protein and zero sugar. They’re filling and made from real ingredients, so it’s one less thing to think about. And if you’ve ever opened your kid’s backpack to find a half-eaten snack from who-knows-when still wrapped up in there, Chomplings are great. They’re smaller sticks (the right size to toss in a lunchbox or that little front backpack pocket) with 4 grams of protein and zero sugar. Chomps are made of high-quality ingredients like 100% grass-fed beef, venison, and antibiotic-free turkey. They’re also free from the top nine allergens, so you don’t have to worry about sending them to school. Check out all the sizes and delicious flavors at Chomps.com/DRBECKY for 15% off plus free shipping. We say it all the time at Good Inside: Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish - it’s self-sustaining. But let’s be honest: Self-care can feel impossible without reliable childcare. That’s where Sittercity comes in. It’s a trusted platform that makes it easier to find sitters who are kind, experienced, and show up when you need them. You can read real parent reviews, connect with sitters directly, and even set up interviews, all in one spot. Whether you’re craving a solo errand run, a date night out, or need after school support, Sittercity can give you the logistical support you need to show up for yourself. Find a sitter or nanny that’s perfect for your family at sittercity dot com and use code "goodinside" for 25% off the annual or quarterly premium subscription plans. Use promocode: goodinside [**https://www.sittercity.com/?utm_source=cp&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast-may2025&utm_content=goodinside**](https://www.sittercity.com/?utm_source=cp&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast-may2025&utm_content=goodinside) If you’re anything like me, you’re running out of summer activity ideas for your kids! Well, exciting news for parents everywhere: Good Inside just teamed up with the Play-Doh brand and Walmart to bring you a video series on how to help kids build life-long skills like imagination, confidence, and frustration tolerance - all through open-ended play! The best part: I promise this isn’t another thing to add to your already packed plate as a parent. No hours of prep, no need for picture-perfect setups. All you need is a Play-Doh can or two. *We also made a guide with “5 Steps to Open-ended Play” that you can literally download* *on the Good Inside blog* *and try today. (Full disclosure: I printed the guide out and stuck it on my fridge as a reminder for myself - after all, my kids get “mom” at home, not Dr. Becky!)* Head to walmart.com/playdoh to watch the videos. That’s walmart.com/playdoh.  I can’t wait to hear what your kid creates.

SPEAKERS

  • Dr. Becky

    host

    Clinical psychologist and parenting expert, host of the Good Inside podcast.

  • Ash Brandon

    guest

    Screen-time and video game parenting educator known on Instagram as The Gamer Educator.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, featuring Dr. Becky and Ash Brandon, A Different Take on Screen Time explores rethinking screen time through neutrality, needs, and skill-building boundaries Ash Brandon argues screen time decisions should start with a family’s needs and constraints, not universal “right amounts” or moral judgments.

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