We're joined by GP and mother of two teenage daughters and a twelve-year-old son, Dr Davies to discuss moving towards a smartphone free childhood. Five years ago, when deciding how to manage smartphones within her own family, Dr Davies founded the charity PAPAYA (Parents Against Phone Addiction in Young Adolescents).

PAPAYA aims to educate and empower parents on the mental health problems associated with smartphones and social media, and to help parents work together when navigating how they can delay technology with their children.

In this podcast we discuss common issues and concerns that arise when children have access to smartphones and social media at a young age. Susie talks about her experience as a GP coming across the mental health issues linked to unlimited phone, social media and internet use. And her experience as a mother dealing with the challenging parenting approaches that are required to keep your child safe, happy and healthy as they grow and develop.

We cover themes such as phone addiction, gaming disorder, accessibility to porn and the impact on the developing child, and cyber bullying. She goes into detail about how all of these can impact negatively on our children's mental health and how parents and professionals can work together to protect our children from these issues and support them to navigate the online world safely and age appropriately.

Her book, The Healthy Selfie, is due out in Autumn 2024 and if you sign up to the PAPAYA website you can find out how to purchase it.

PAPAYA - parents against phone addiction in young adolescents:
https://www.papayaparents.com/

Nip in the Bud Blog -
https://nipinthebud.org/blog/

Join our mailing list. -
https://nipinthebud.org/join-our-mailing-list/

Jonathan Haidt - The Anxious Generation
https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book

Anna Freud - Mentally Healthy Schools -
https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/factors-that-impact-mental-health/school-based-risk-factors/bullying-and-cyberbullying/

Order your copy of The Healthy Selfie: www.thehealthyselfie.co.uk (use discount code PAPAYA

Nip in the Bud - Where to get help

https://nipinthebud.org/where-to-get-help/