When it comes to cyberbullying, what's fact and what's fiction? What do all kids need to know about how to handle online cruelty and how to help those getting targeted? And what can parents and schools do to be most helpful? To answer these and other questions, Dr. Ruston speaks with psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Englander, who has spent decades researching and writing books on these topics.

This spring, as vaccination rates increase, more schools are opening their campuses for in-person learning. At the same time, anxiety about returning to school is high for many youth. How do we help our kids and teens who are experiencing anxious feelings related to school? To address this topic, Ruston speaks with a high school student and two child psychologists, Dr. Elizabeth Englander, a researcher, and Dr. Laura Kastner, a clinical psychologist.

This spring, as vaccination rates increase, more schools are opening their campuses for in-person learning. At the same time, anxiety about returning to school is high for many youth.  How do we help our kids and teens who are experiencing anxious feelings related to school? To address this topic, Ruston speaks with a high school student and two child psychologists, Dr. Elizabeth Englander, a researcher, and Dr. Laura Kastner, a clinical psychologist.

Frustrated with his obsession with video gaming, Cam Adair wrote a post about his struggles that went viral. This led to his starting a movement that has brought together thousands to work to create a balanced life at Gamequitters.com. Cam is an international speaker to youth and their parents about video gaming. Today he shares his powerful personal story along with his wealth of insights for any youth who enjoys video gaming and any parent who is working to ensure a balanced life for their...

Everyone knows that many young people play video games based on violent themes, and that shows have far more violence than when adults were kids. When COVID hit, many parents started to allow their kids to play games that they wouldn't have before COVID just because it has been such a source of connection. Dr. Ruston wants to understand how that this violence impacts youth. We hear from Douglas Gentile, Ph.D., a child psychologist who has been doing groundbreaking research in this field for...

These days Dr. Ruston hears parents’ concerns around all the video gaming their kids are doing — as well as social media and other screen time and their worries around the risks their kids will develop an addiction to technology. Dr. Ruston talks with Ed Spector,  Psy.D., a psychologist who has worked with young people struggling with problematic video gaming and the internet. Learn what gaming disorder is and what strategies Dr. Spector uses with his clients to gain more balance in their...

False information about vaccines has been around before social media, but now it can spread that much faster. The results have been deadly. We all want safe and effective vaccines against COVID.  Today Dr. Ruston breaks down some of the false information around vaccines, explores amazing vaccine history, and relates this all to COVID. We also hear from kids and from a renowned vaccine researcher, Dr. Parker Small.

Stanford researcher who studies this question and has created evidenced-based ways kids can be savvy fact-checkers. Also, teens share how they evaluate social media posts and decide when to share or not.

With back to school starting and all the online and offline stressors our kids face right now, this show is about improving our kids’ emotional well-being by focusing on healthy sleep. Have your kids and teens listen to this show with you! Hear fascinating insights and studies from Dr. Judy Owens, the Director of Sleep Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital, as well as parents and teens' real-life experiences. You will discover new ideas for increasing your child’s chance of brain nourishing...

Arguments in the home about screen time are common and more so when school is in session, so what to do? What is a parenting strategy that can promote healthy screen use, and other positive behaviors, while at the same time decrease fighting? In this episode, Delaney talks with one of her favorite parenting experts, Dr. Tammy Fisher Huson, about a strategy that Delaney learned from Tammy in the past and has made a real difference in Delaney’s own home.

It's a new world where regular people of all ages become stars on the internet overnight. But how do young influencers become brand marketers? Different for males than females? Kids & teens feel connected & trust YouTubers they follow but are they aware they're being marketed to? How is this type of marketing affecting our kids' self-esteem? Today’s guests include a talent manager for influencers who gives a behind the scenes look at these questions, along with teens who share their...

Time on TikTok has been skyrocketing. Why is it attracting such huge numbers of teens? What positives can happen on the app, and what are some of the risks? The sheer amount of time it consumes is what most young people say is TikTok’s biggest downside. On today’s show, Dr. Delaney Ruston speaks with two teenagers, Marie and Manisha, who answer these questions and others.

Why do some kids and teens get overly frustrated and bored when it’s time to turn off their video games? How to know when game playing has become excessive? What are tips that all families should know for ensuring healthy videogame play? In today’s episode, Physician Delaney Ruston explores these issues along with a new model of brain biology to help explain irritability and boredom associated with video gaming.