Settings Kids Up For Success: When Algorithms Replace Family Conversations (ep4)

Your child's future might depend on the conversations you're NOT having because of your phone. This changes everything about screen time limits.Join Family IT Guy Ben Gillenwater and Dr. Steve Underwood (https://www.veritasedconsulting.com) as they connect dots between device addiction and the literacy crisis. Steve overcame poverty and a severe stutter to become a leading education consultant - and his insights will transform how you think about technology's real cost to your family.CRITICAL MOMENTS:00:01:40 - Steve's personal struggle that shaped his mission00:24:21 - The grocery store test revealing 10,000 word gaps00:28:08 - "Rich get richer, poor get poorer" in literacy00:43:03 - When addiction patterns repeat across generations00:47:08 - Using YouTube as a conversation tool, not babysitter01:20:14 - Why typing skills don't equal future readinessLearn why first grade is the literacy deadline, how to ask questions that build critical thinking, and what "attachment parenting" means in our digital world.Perfect for parents who've read "The Anxious Generation" and want specific, actionable strategies beyond just limiting screen time.#DigitalParenting #LiteracyCrisis #EducationReform #ScreenAddiction #ChildBrainDevelopment #ParentingStrategies

Om Podcasten

Ben Gillenwater helps families protect children from digital dangers, bringing 30 years of cybersecurity expertise to the parenting journey. His background includes working with the NSA and serving as Chief Technologist of a $10 billion IT company, where he built global-scale systems and understood technology’s risks at every level. His mission began when he gave his young son an iPad with ”kid-safe” apps—only to discover inappropriate content days later. Despite his deep technical background, Ben realized that if protecting children online was challenging for him, it must be even more difficult for parents without his expertise. Through Family IT Guy, Ben creates videos and articles that help parents and kids learn how to leverage the positive parts of the internet while avoiding the dangerous and risky parts. His approach bridges the knowledge gap between complex technology and practical family protection, making digital safety accessible to everyone.