October 28th 2026
Parents are under enormous pressure. They are expected to raise happy, healthy children while navigating work, rising costs, social media and a constant stream of advice telling them what they should be doing. It is hardly surprising that many reach for the easiest solution when everyone is exhausted. Sometimes that solution is a screen. In this week’s podcast I talk to parenting expert Sue Atkins, who has spent years helping parents find practical ways through the digital maze without guilt or judgement.
What struck me most was Sue’s determination not to wage war on technology. She isn’t asking families to throw away their phones or ban tablets overnight. Instead, she asks a much simpler question. Where can we create one moment each day that belongs to us rather than our screens?
Her answer is refreshingly ordinary: start with mealtimes. Not because every family sits around a perfect kitchen table. Many don’t. Families work shifts, eat at different times or don’t even have a table. The point is not the furniture. It is the conversation.
Whether you’re sharing breakfast, a picnic on the floor or five minutes over a bowl of pasta, those moments help children build language, confidence and belonging. They remind us that children learn relationships long before they learn facts.
Our conversation also explores something much bigger. Screens are only one part of the story. We discuss confidence in parenting, the importance of boundaries, the pressure created by social media and why nurseries have such an important role in supporting families rather than judging them.
If there is one message I hope listeners take away, it is this: don’t try to change everything. Choose one small habit that helps your family reconnect. Put the phone down for ten minutes. Ask a different question. Listen to the answer. Sometimes the smallest changes create the strongest connections.
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