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Reset Your Child's Brain: A Four-Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades, and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen-Time
Increasing numbers of parents grapple with children who are acting out without obvious reason. Revved up and irritable, many of these children are diagnosed with ADHD, bipolar illness, autism, or other disorders but don’t respond well to treatment. They are then medicated, often with poor results and unwanted side effects. Based on emerging scientific research and extensive clinical experience, integrative child psychiatrist Dr. Victoria Dunckley has pioneered a four-week program to treat the frequent underlying cause, Electronic Screen Syndrome (ESS).
Dr. Dunckley has found that everyday use of interactive screen devices — such as computers, video games, smartphones, and tablets — can easily overstimulate a child’s nervous system, triggering a variety of stubborn symptoms. In contrast, she’s discovered that a strict, extended electronic fast single-handedly improves mood, focus, sleep, and behavior, regardless of the child’s diagnosis. It also reduces the need for medication and renders other treatments more effective.
Offered now in this book, this simple intervention can produce a life-changing shift in brain function and help your child get back on track — all without cost or medication. While no one in today’s connected world can completely shun electronic stimuli, Dr. Dunckley provides hope for parents who feel that their child has been misdiagnosed or inappropriately medicated, by presenting an alternative explanation for their child’s difficulties and a concrete plan for treating them.
Dr. Dunckley has found that everyday use of interactive screen devices — such as computers, video games, smartphones, and tablets — can easily overstimulate a child’s nervous system, triggering a variety of stubborn symptoms. In contrast, she’s discovered that a strict, extended electronic fast single-handedly improves mood, focus, sleep, and behavior, regardless of the child’s diagnosis. It also reduces the need for medication and renders other treatments more effective.
Offered now in this book, this simple intervention can produce a life-changing shift in brain function and help your child get back on track — all without cost or medication. While no one in today’s connected world can completely shun electronic stimuli, Dr. Dunckley provides hope for parents who feel that their child has been misdiagnosed or inappropriately medicated, by presenting an alternative explanation for their child’s difficulties and a concrete plan for treating them.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2015
555 people are currently reading
2892 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Dunckley
2 books15 followersVictoria L Dunckley MD is an award-winning integrative child psychiatrist and leading expert on the physiological impacts of screen-time on the brain and body. She blogs monthly for Psychology Today, and has been a featured expert on such media outlets as the TODAY show, NBC Nightly News, Fox News LA, and NPR.
Over the past decade, her Reset Program has helped more than 500 children, teens, and young adults who've failed conventional treatment alone. Dr. Dunckley feels screen-time is contributing to misdiagnosis, overmedication, and misuse of health and education resources in children. She is a board member of Doctors for Safer Schools and Families Managing Media. She lives and practices in Los Angeles, CA.
For more information visit www.drdunckley.com and www.ResetYourChildsBrain.com.
Over the past decade, her Reset Program has helped more than 500 children, teens, and young adults who've failed conventional treatment alone. Dr. Dunckley feels screen-time is contributing to misdiagnosis, overmedication, and misuse of health and education resources in children. She is a board member of Doctors for Safer Schools and Families Managing Media. She lives and practices in Los Angeles, CA.
For more information visit www.drdunckley.com and www.ResetYourChildsBrain.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
September 11, 2016
There was a time – in the glorious and gilded days when I was a child – when we picked up our rooms and wore bow ties to school. I knew what a tough day mom had so I always offered to clear the table. I said ‘Yes, Ma’am’ and ‘No Sir’. And imagine my shock when, on my wedding night, I learned that girls and boys look different without underwear?
Yes. This is preposterous and silly. But there is a sense of urgency in Victoria Dunckley’s Reset Your Child’s Brain that harkens back to those good ol’ days that never were. She promises to ‘End meltdowns, raise grades, and boost social skills by reversing the effects of electronic screen-time’. I don’t care what era or what the evils: this is a fantastic sales pitch that will never fail to sell books.
Dunckley’s argument is that electronic activities trick your brain into thinking you are under attack. Your heart rate and breath quicken. Plasma cortisol increases. You sweat. You begin to identify with game characters. You start to buy into the sales pitch. You become a minion. There is evidence that all of this is true – but to what degree? The research is, by nature, correlative with almost no way to prove causation. What, really, is the cause of Johnny’s poor grades? Loss of the family dinner table? New math? Or mom’s iPhone? All have a part and no single ingredient will solve any crisis. Dunckley provides research references but take care to bring along a grain of salt. Any research involving children or even humans is tough to pull causation from. Most of these have a very small sample size which makes finding significant differences difficult at best. There might very well be something important here but as most doctors and researchers agree a lot more long-term research is required.
But I don’t in any way write Dunckley off. She’s a respected child psychologist who looks at the whole life rather than treating ailments symptomatically. And while maybe not a panacea, I can’t argue with her advice – lay off the electronics. Make sure important things are done first. Keep them active and socially involved. I’m not sure if this is a revolution in child rearing in the modern age or just good advice that your grandmother gave. I’ve done this with my own children. It will surprise no parent that after a steady stream of Teen Titans Go! or Adventure Time my kids are sassy brats who think their parents are idiots. I notice a calming change when I put limits on game, phone, and TV use. But I can’t say for sure that I am stemming psychological changes or if I'm simply making sure that important things are done first. We make sure that the kids are active and play with friends. Electronics are mostly for free time when life slows a bit. Yes, I would prefer that they write to pen pals in Paris or read the classics in Latin but, geez, they’re kids. I whiled away in-between times with car models and Iron Man comics. I turned out alright. Maybe.
As an interesting and relevant aside, I encourage parents to read about ADHD treatment in France. Per the Amen Clinic, fully 80-85% of ADHD medications are prescribed in the US. France has much lower rates of all childhood behavioral issues but only prescribes medication after a full dietary, behavioral, and social work up of the entire family. Normal French discipline is cited as well by providing more stringent guidelines of proper behavior instead of the more free or non-existent discipline of American families. Interesting stuff.
I encourage all parents to read the book. You have to tip-toe a bit through hyperbole but the information presented is important and relevant.
And a story with a question – I read about three pages of a Stephen King book once and put it down scared out of my wits. I haven't a clue as to the title but bushes began to uproot themselves and chase the poor heroes to their death. I was so scared I've never read anything else by King. I am sure that my blood cortisol and heart rate were elevated and that I began to sweat. I identified with the characters to the point of putting the book down I was so scared. So maybe - ? - it's the content and not the medium? Or both?
Three and a half stars.
Yes. This is preposterous and silly. But there is a sense of urgency in Victoria Dunckley’s Reset Your Child’s Brain that harkens back to those good ol’ days that never were. She promises to ‘End meltdowns, raise grades, and boost social skills by reversing the effects of electronic screen-time’. I don’t care what era or what the evils: this is a fantastic sales pitch that will never fail to sell books.
Dunckley’s argument is that electronic activities trick your brain into thinking you are under attack. Your heart rate and breath quicken. Plasma cortisol increases. You sweat. You begin to identify with game characters. You start to buy into the sales pitch. You become a minion. There is evidence that all of this is true – but to what degree? The research is, by nature, correlative with almost no way to prove causation. What, really, is the cause of Johnny’s poor grades? Loss of the family dinner table? New math? Or mom’s iPhone? All have a part and no single ingredient will solve any crisis. Dunckley provides research references but take care to bring along a grain of salt. Any research involving children or even humans is tough to pull causation from. Most of these have a very small sample size which makes finding significant differences difficult at best. There might very well be something important here but as most doctors and researchers agree a lot more long-term research is required.
But I don’t in any way write Dunckley off. She’s a respected child psychologist who looks at the whole life rather than treating ailments symptomatically. And while maybe not a panacea, I can’t argue with her advice – lay off the electronics. Make sure important things are done first. Keep them active and socially involved. I’m not sure if this is a revolution in child rearing in the modern age or just good advice that your grandmother gave. I’ve done this with my own children. It will surprise no parent that after a steady stream of Teen Titans Go! or Adventure Time my kids are sassy brats who think their parents are idiots. I notice a calming change when I put limits on game, phone, and TV use. But I can’t say for sure that I am stemming psychological changes or if I'm simply making sure that important things are done first. We make sure that the kids are active and play with friends. Electronics are mostly for free time when life slows a bit. Yes, I would prefer that they write to pen pals in Paris or read the classics in Latin but, geez, they’re kids. I whiled away in-between times with car models and Iron Man comics. I turned out alright. Maybe.
As an interesting and relevant aside, I encourage parents to read about ADHD treatment in France. Per the Amen Clinic, fully 80-85% of ADHD medications are prescribed in the US. France has much lower rates of all childhood behavioral issues but only prescribes medication after a full dietary, behavioral, and social work up of the entire family. Normal French discipline is cited as well by providing more stringent guidelines of proper behavior instead of the more free or non-existent discipline of American families. Interesting stuff.
I encourage all parents to read the book. You have to tip-toe a bit through hyperbole but the information presented is important and relevant.
And a story with a question – I read about three pages of a Stephen King book once and put it down scared out of my wits. I haven't a clue as to the title but bushes began to uproot themselves and chase the poor heroes to their death. I was so scared I've never read anything else by King. I am sure that my blood cortisol and heart rate were elevated and that I began to sweat. I identified with the characters to the point of putting the book down I was so scared. So maybe - ? - it's the content and not the medium? Or both?
Three and a half stars.
June 16, 2016
Absolutely love this book. It literally changed my family's life - for the better. We were having so many problems with one of my children's behavior. But after implementing this program, I have my sweet boy back again.
October 14, 2015
Good book, a bit too long but it does list loads of research, action plans, and practical tips. We are trying the "fast" to see if it helps our easily excitable and distractable kid. A lot of this is common sense, as we grew up without smartphones, tablets, wifi, and laptops. We noticed a lot of the symptoms in ourselves too.
July 23, 2017
Excellent book for understanding how screens and electronics affect children's brains and offers a program to 'reset' the brain. Not easy in today's culture. I wish all teachers, educators, adminstrators and policy makers read this book and we'd have some changes on the national scale. All the computer time for kids in school is so bad for them!
June 9, 2017
Very interesting read. Page 110, benefits of removing screens. Pg 112, how this effects right brain and left brain. Pg 114 changes in children within days weeks and months of "screen liberation". Pg 120 changes in families. Chapter 5 Getting ready for the "screen fast". Chapter 10 House rules and protective practises. Pg 247, advocating smaller screens and using f.lux justgetflux.com, adding warmth to screens. Pg 268 exposure to EMF ( electromagnetic fields) and WiFi.
September 21, 2015
It was eye-opening. I enjoyed it very much and it made me much more aware of my own consumption of screen time and the effects it has on me. Also, the book was well written which made it an easy read.
August 20, 2016
This book is a game changer! I wish I had read it years ago. The changes I have seen in my children because of the electronic fast are dramatic. It is worth reading despite its redundancy, and an electronic fast is free and worth a try.
January 9, 2019
There are a lot of good reviews on Goodreads that say exactly what I'm going to try to say, but better, so you should probably go read those if you're interested in this concept. But basically, Dunckley wants to claim that all screen time is dangerous, and although she has some science to back her up, most of it is from tiny studies with tiny populations and who knows what funding or controls. And screen time definitely messes all of us up to some degree, but Dunckley really doesn't want to talk about all of the ways that screens (and the apps running on them) are literal lifesavers for a lot of disabled folks. I literally barely functioned for years because I couldn't keep track of a physical calendar, to do list, phone numbers, addresses. Now I have a smart phone, and I'm not going to claim that it's good for me in the sense that good food and exercise are good for me, but I also couldn't be a person in the world with friends and a marriage and children who are fed and clothed and well-loved without it.
If you are struggling with your family's screen time or considering that it is causing your kids some behavioral issues, read this book, get some ideas, and figure out how to reduce/remove screen time from your day-to-day, whether you use Dunckley's exact plan or not. Sometimes she is convincing, and I do believe that some people, and especially kids, are much more prone to screen addiction/ screen-related behavioral issues than others (see my daughter's reactions to screens versus my son's, as an example!). But is the science behind this overwhelmingly convincing? No. And Dunckley's personal experience, while very valuable, is with an at-risk population with comorbidities, and so can't translate to a general population. I just don't feel like this is a very balanced approach, nor honestly particularly helpful in a society (where educational systems and work environments and even mall directories) depending on screens.
If you are struggling with your family's screen time or considering that it is causing your kids some behavioral issues, read this book, get some ideas, and figure out how to reduce/remove screen time from your day-to-day, whether you use Dunckley's exact plan or not. Sometimes she is convincing, and I do believe that some people, and especially kids, are much more prone to screen addiction/ screen-related behavioral issues than others (see my daughter's reactions to screens versus my son's, as an example!). But is the science behind this overwhelmingly convincing? No. And Dunckley's personal experience, while very valuable, is with an at-risk population with comorbidities, and so can't translate to a general population. I just don't feel like this is a very balanced approach, nor honestly particularly helpful in a society (where educational systems and work environments and even mall directories) depending on screens.
October 25, 2015
Helpful. I agree with every word. No screen time. But how do we get around it when schools rely on ipads for the delivery of school work?
The best I can do is limit the about as much as possible.
The best I can do is limit the about as much as possible.
June 20, 2020
I requested this book pre-Covid-shutdown, and it's been sitting here ever since. I'm going to be able to return it soon, so I thought that I should at least take a look to figure out why I'd requested it in the first place.
The book is a recommendation to keep kids who are having any of a wide array of problems away from screens, especially video games, for three weeks, and only re-introduce small amounts of them later, with great caution. This will allegedly treat all manner of learning disabilities, social issues, and behavioral problems. The text is scattered with examples of kids who were utterly transformed by this electronics fast, and initially reluctant adults who became enthusiasts for this treatment.
I don't buy it. Most of the transformations could be explained simply by the fact that with the removal of "devices" the kids in question caught up on their sleep. This could easily be accomplished by simply removing computers, gaming systems, and phones from the bedroom after a strict curfew an hour or two before bedtime. It's mostly a matter of light exposure, though if the kid is watching particularly violent/troublesome content that could lead to nightmares, too. If parents are arranging other activities for the kids, then the balance of the benefits could be explained by increased attention from parents and other adults and increased outdoor and free play time. The author doesn't present strong enough evidence for me to be convinced that interactive screen time is such an evil in itself, though I do think that sleep and outdoor time are very important, so if games are getting in the way of those things, that's a problem.
I suppose the best thing I can say for this book is that it has inspired me to take a critical look at how we use our computers in this house, but it's a reaction against this book, more than an endorsement of it.
Disclaimer: I have not read every word. I skimmed most of it and looked at some chapters in the middle. Maybe there's some amazing insight that I missed... but I doubt it.
The book is a recommendation to keep kids who are having any of a wide array of problems away from screens, especially video games, for three weeks, and only re-introduce small amounts of them later, with great caution. This will allegedly treat all manner of learning disabilities, social issues, and behavioral problems. The text is scattered with examples of kids who were utterly transformed by this electronics fast, and initially reluctant adults who became enthusiasts for this treatment.
I don't buy it. Most of the transformations could be explained simply by the fact that with the removal of "devices" the kids in question caught up on their sleep. This could easily be accomplished by simply removing computers, gaming systems, and phones from the bedroom after a strict curfew an hour or two before bedtime. It's mostly a matter of light exposure, though if the kid is watching particularly violent/troublesome content that could lead to nightmares, too. If parents are arranging other activities for the kids, then the balance of the benefits could be explained by increased attention from parents and other adults and increased outdoor and free play time. The author doesn't present strong enough evidence for me to be convinced that interactive screen time is such an evil in itself, though I do think that sleep and outdoor time are very important, so if games are getting in the way of those things, that's a problem.
I suppose the best thing I can say for this book is that it has inspired me to take a critical look at how we use our computers in this house, but it's a reaction against this book, more than an endorsement of it.
Disclaimer: I have not read every word. I skimmed most of it and looked at some chapters in the middle. Maybe there's some amazing insight that I missed... but I doubt it.
February 15, 2018
If you are human and if you own a screen device, then you should read this book. If you are a parent you should OWN THIS BOOK! It's less than $8 on amazon!
I am making my two oldest children read section 1. Everything beyond section 1, is basically just minutia on how to implement the electronic-fast, and she does have experiences with trouble shooting there, but it's a simple enough premise. The author does belabor certain other points and the book is overly long. Really the message is simple and clear and could have been written in half the number of pages. Perhaps because she is trying to win over our screen-saturated society? But despite the repetitive nature of the book, I read ALL of it, and recommend EVERYONE ELSE TO DO THE SAME! I guess I'm saying to Dr. Victoria Dunckley: "You had me at 'Hello!' " (Chapter 1, that is.)
I am making my two oldest children read section 1. Everything beyond section 1, is basically just minutia on how to implement the electronic-fast, and she does have experiences with trouble shooting there, but it's a simple enough premise. The author does belabor certain other points and the book is overly long. Really the message is simple and clear and could have been written in half the number of pages. Perhaps because she is trying to win over our screen-saturated society? But despite the repetitive nature of the book, I read ALL of it, and recommend EVERYONE ELSE TO DO THE SAME! I guess I'm saying to Dr. Victoria Dunckley: "You had me at 'Hello!' " (Chapter 1, that is.)
April 17, 2017
I'm really conflicted on what to rank this. Lots of good information but it seemed to be repeated until it felt like we were being hit over the head with it. I'm probably the ideal audience for this book since I went into reading it believing that screen time is harmful to our children but I found the author's approach to be off-putting and over the top.
November 21, 2015
Great insight on how the brain works in relation to the electronics that are all round us.
February 27, 2017
I think this is a must-read for every parent raising kids today in this screen saturated world!
March 15, 2019
In my own career as a teacher, I informally surveyed student’s parents regarding basic home habits. Among those findings: daily screen time hovered between 3 to 8 hours. Aghast, I resolved not to use the $10,000 “smart screen” in our classroom. Intuiting that four and five-year-old children require personal face time, group time and hug time rather than more screen time, I held firm to this resolve even when pressured to succumb.
Though since retired, my concern for children persists. Here in a suburban hub, I watch screen-mesmerized babies and toddlers while parents sip coffee and stare into their own phones.
And my worry grows.
It’s well-known that Silicon Valley gurus, including Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, carefully monitored their children’s use of technology. This ought to give parents reason to pause. However, “the value of novelty that’s highly prized in American Society”1 blinds many to the precautionary principle (better safe than sorry, exercise caution when unsure).
I can only surmise that most parents hold a false belief that corporations, beholden only to shareholders, are somehow also watching out for their best interests. If not, surely the United States government must have tested the devices for safety.
Reset Your Child’s Brain by Dr. Victoria Dunckley, is groundbreaking. The title could just as easily be Reset Your Child’s Brain and Set Them Free!
Parents and caregivers must take a deep look at their underlying beliefs about what constitutes a healthy lifestyle, examine them thoroughly, delve into the facts, and rescue their screen-addicted children.
In case after case, Dr. Dunckley cites data urging extreme caution in the use of screens and children. We are confronted with the reality that there is no science supporting the value of “interactive video gaming” and “educational” apps. The interactive use of the screen, in fact, is counterproductive to the growing brain (particularly frontal lobe development).
“The frontal lobe is the part of the brain that controls important cognitive skills in humans, such as emotional expression, problem solving, memory, language, judgment, and sexual behaviors. It is, in essence, the “control panel” of our personality and our ability to communicate.” 2
While a bird pushes her baby out of the nest within weeks and at most months, a human baby is extremely dependent upon parental support for years. It is our duty to monitor and educate our children.
The author has coined the diagnosis, “Electronic Screen Syndrome;” a name for the dysregulation we see when a child (or even an adult) is exposed to excessive screen time. How much is too much? This depends on gender, child and age.
There are especially vulnerable populations: youngest (children ages 0-3), teens, boys, immune compromised, autistic, those with ADHD (“ADD”) and learning disabilities.
Is your child suffering from fatigue, isolation, over-stimulation, lack of motivation, lack of interest, lowered grades, lack of social life, tantrums, addiction to gaming, social media, internet surfing…any or all of the above? When a child is exposed to too much screen time, mild symptoms gradually become extreme, which then slowly become out of control.
Remarkably, the “screen fast” suggested by Dr. Dunckley can result in movement away from many of the above-mentioned dysfunctions afflicting so many of our children and young adults today. The fast opens up a family to new possibilities, clean living, and a true rest for children’s brains. The fast can bring families together to enjoy new opportunities for activities, growth, and closeness. After reading this book, I’m sure you’ll agree that the fast is well worth a try.
Every parent ought to read this book, period. Having gifted it to several friends and colleagues, my hope is that all educators get to review it, including school psychologists, social workers, and administrators.
Arm yourself with the facts, embrace the precautionary principle, and shield yourself and your family from the dangers of radiation exposure.
Reset Your Child’s Brain, Victoria Dunckley p.271
https://www.healthline.com/human-body...
see the rest of the review on here: http://christinecalabrese.com/reset-y...
Though since retired, my concern for children persists. Here in a suburban hub, I watch screen-mesmerized babies and toddlers while parents sip coffee and stare into their own phones.
And my worry grows.
It’s well-known that Silicon Valley gurus, including Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, carefully monitored their children’s use of technology. This ought to give parents reason to pause. However, “the value of novelty that’s highly prized in American Society”1 blinds many to the precautionary principle (better safe than sorry, exercise caution when unsure).
I can only surmise that most parents hold a false belief that corporations, beholden only to shareholders, are somehow also watching out for their best interests. If not, surely the United States government must have tested the devices for safety.
Reset Your Child’s Brain by Dr. Victoria Dunckley, is groundbreaking. The title could just as easily be Reset Your Child’s Brain and Set Them Free!
Parents and caregivers must take a deep look at their underlying beliefs about what constitutes a healthy lifestyle, examine them thoroughly, delve into the facts, and rescue their screen-addicted children.
In case after case, Dr. Dunckley cites data urging extreme caution in the use of screens and children. We are confronted with the reality that there is no science supporting the value of “interactive video gaming” and “educational” apps. The interactive use of the screen, in fact, is counterproductive to the growing brain (particularly frontal lobe development).
“The frontal lobe is the part of the brain that controls important cognitive skills in humans, such as emotional expression, problem solving, memory, language, judgment, and sexual behaviors. It is, in essence, the “control panel” of our personality and our ability to communicate.” 2
While a bird pushes her baby out of the nest within weeks and at most months, a human baby is extremely dependent upon parental support for years. It is our duty to monitor and educate our children.
The author has coined the diagnosis, “Electronic Screen Syndrome;” a name for the dysregulation we see when a child (or even an adult) is exposed to excessive screen time. How much is too much? This depends on gender, child and age.
There are especially vulnerable populations: youngest (children ages 0-3), teens, boys, immune compromised, autistic, those with ADHD (“ADD”) and learning disabilities.
Is your child suffering from fatigue, isolation, over-stimulation, lack of motivation, lack of interest, lowered grades, lack of social life, tantrums, addiction to gaming, social media, internet surfing…any or all of the above? When a child is exposed to too much screen time, mild symptoms gradually become extreme, which then slowly become out of control.
Remarkably, the “screen fast” suggested by Dr. Dunckley can result in movement away from many of the above-mentioned dysfunctions afflicting so many of our children and young adults today. The fast opens up a family to new possibilities, clean living, and a true rest for children’s brains. The fast can bring families together to enjoy new opportunities for activities, growth, and closeness. After reading this book, I’m sure you’ll agree that the fast is well worth a try.
Every parent ought to read this book, period. Having gifted it to several friends and colleagues, my hope is that all educators get to review it, including school psychologists, social workers, and administrators.
Arm yourself with the facts, embrace the precautionary principle, and shield yourself and your family from the dangers of radiation exposure.
Reset Your Child’s Brain, Victoria Dunckley p.271
https://www.healthline.com/human-body...
see the rest of the review on here: http://christinecalabrese.com/reset-y...
November 26, 2016
Seldom does a book come along that is so comprehensive in terms of the brain science and so thorough in its practical applications. The last book I read that moved me to tell EVERYONE I know about it was Jane Healy's Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think And What We Can Do About It. Rest Your Child's Brain is such a book--one that maybe comes along every decade or so if we are lucky.
Dr. Dunckley writes clearly about highly specialized brain functions and structures and how they are impacted by over-use and mis-use of screen technologies. Often folks think a one week or 10-day screen-free time period will help youngsters gain more control over their video/digital habits--but the fact is most children and teens need more time than that. Dr. Dunckley explains why a 4-week minimum is necessary to "reset" developing brain patterns and neural connections. PLUS she gives families a very detailed program to follow, giving many hopeful real-life examples of just how profound the positive changes can be for both kids and their parents.
Having spent my professional career since 1987 helping parents navigate media/digital issues successfully, I have studied the impact of too much screen-time on cognitive, emotional/social well being of youngsters and youth. And while media/digial literacy education in our homes and schools can help, I don't think media/digital literacy (or any form of literacy for that matter) can be taught to or learned effectively by kids who consume 8-10 hours of digital/screen entertainment daily. Developing brains need a variety of different types of activities, including less 2-D activities and more 3-D ones. Experts know this and brain science is clear on what developing brains need to grow optimally. Now, with this book, parents know this as well. No more confusion. These are indisputable facts, no matter how inconvenient, as Dunkley points out time and time again. With this book, parents can protect their children with accurate information and guide them wisely.
I am particularly horrified that violent video games are now normalized as an OK form of entertainment. In my book, (with Dave Grossman), Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to Action Against TV, Movie & Video Game Violence, I compiled the research on why video games are so harmful, particularly on children's self-identity. In this book, Dr. Dunckley clearly lays out the addiction pathways created by both violent and even so-called "educational" video games. She takes the popular notion that gaming is fine, even good for our kids, and shreds it with her deep understanding and precise articulation of the brain science.
In addition, the book is the best I have seen on how the "gestalt" of what Dunckley calls, Electronic Screen Syndrome. dis-regulates the brain (and therefore the child) on various levels causing stress, even traumatic stress, on an on-going basis--until the brain and central nervous system are cleansed and reset.
I have great respect for Dr. Dunckley, an integrative psychiatrist, who is helping thousands of families come back to life. When children and teens use screen technologies as purposeful tools, rather than as mindless tethers, they flourish and everyone in society benefits. I am recommending this book to all the parents and the family support professionals I work with. I hope you can tell, I can't recommend it highly enough!
Dr. Dunckley writes clearly about highly specialized brain functions and structures and how they are impacted by over-use and mis-use of screen technologies. Often folks think a one week or 10-day screen-free time period will help youngsters gain more control over their video/digital habits--but the fact is most children and teens need more time than that. Dr. Dunckley explains why a 4-week minimum is necessary to "reset" developing brain patterns and neural connections. PLUS she gives families a very detailed program to follow, giving many hopeful real-life examples of just how profound the positive changes can be for both kids and their parents.
Having spent my professional career since 1987 helping parents navigate media/digital issues successfully, I have studied the impact of too much screen-time on cognitive, emotional/social well being of youngsters and youth. And while media/digial literacy education in our homes and schools can help, I don't think media/digital literacy (or any form of literacy for that matter) can be taught to or learned effectively by kids who consume 8-10 hours of digital/screen entertainment daily. Developing brains need a variety of different types of activities, including less 2-D activities and more 3-D ones. Experts know this and brain science is clear on what developing brains need to grow optimally. Now, with this book, parents know this as well. No more confusion. These are indisputable facts, no matter how inconvenient, as Dunkley points out time and time again. With this book, parents can protect their children with accurate information and guide them wisely.
I am particularly horrified that violent video games are now normalized as an OK form of entertainment. In my book, (with Dave Grossman), Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to Action Against TV, Movie & Video Game Violence, I compiled the research on why video games are so harmful, particularly on children's self-identity. In this book, Dr. Dunckley clearly lays out the addiction pathways created by both violent and even so-called "educational" video games. She takes the popular notion that gaming is fine, even good for our kids, and shreds it with her deep understanding and precise articulation of the brain science.
In addition, the book is the best I have seen on how the "gestalt" of what Dunckley calls, Electronic Screen Syndrome. dis-regulates the brain (and therefore the child) on various levels causing stress, even traumatic stress, on an on-going basis--until the brain and central nervous system are cleansed and reset.
I have great respect for Dr. Dunckley, an integrative psychiatrist, who is helping thousands of families come back to life. When children and teens use screen technologies as purposeful tools, rather than as mindless tethers, they flourish and everyone in society benefits. I am recommending this book to all the parents and the family support professionals I work with. I hope you can tell, I can't recommend it highly enough!
August 20, 2017
I especially liked Dunckley's explanation of the physiological effects of screens on children and why video games and any kind of hand held screen has a bigger impact than old-school TV watching. I also appreciated her instructions for the 3 week "fast." We are trying the fast with our eight year old son and are having great results. He was spending way too much time playing video games and watching his iPad and in the 10 days since it has been gone, things have been so much better! He has fewer tantrums and meltdowns, gets along better with his brother, and enjoys a variety of activities. I was worried about taking away screens because, like many parents, I count on that time to relax myself or get stuff done. Not having screens has cut into that time for sure, but after a few days my son was finding things to do by himself and I had a lot of that time back. Plus, he is so much more pleasant to be around that I don't mind playing games and doing other things with him.
I was less persuaded by some of Dunckley's seemingly more controversial claims like the miraculous effects that getting rid of screens has on kids with serious psychological problems. The book is full of a few too many rosy stories of kids cured of many ills when screens are eliminated to be entirely believable. And, she is a little extreme in her views about radiation caused by everything from wifi to CFL bulbs. I suppose she could be right and we could all be exposing ourselves to terrible long-term effects everyday but I'm just not ready to live in the 1980s with my rotary dial phone.
I was less persuaded by some of Dunckley's seemingly more controversial claims like the miraculous effects that getting rid of screens has on kids with serious psychological problems. The book is full of a few too many rosy stories of kids cured of many ills when screens are eliminated to be entirely believable. And, she is a little extreme in her views about radiation caused by everything from wifi to CFL bulbs. I suppose she could be right and we could all be exposing ourselves to terrible long-term effects everyday but I'm just not ready to live in the 1980s with my rotary dial phone.
August 19, 2019
This was fascinating. The author is well-researched and has lots of experience backing up what she writes about. I'm an easy sell on the topic, but I think even a skeptic would find something valuable in it.
Update on second reading summer 2019:
This book is even more vital to me now. I’ve had a few of my kids experience ESS symptoms and I’ve used this book as a guide to help them reset. Without that first reading 3.5 years ago, I wouldn’t have recognized the symptoms and would have been baffled at the behavior issues and insomnia my sons were having. I have better tools to help my entire family.
Update on second reading summer 2019:
This book is even more vital to me now. I’ve had a few of my kids experience ESS symptoms and I’ve used this book as a guide to help them reset. Without that first reading 3.5 years ago, I wouldn’t have recognized the symptoms and would have been baffled at the behavior issues and insomnia my sons were having. I have better tools to help my entire family.
June 18, 2017
I can't recommend this book enough. It confirmed many things that I knew intuitively. My only complaint is that I would have liked a chapter on how these issues impact children and teens who haven't been diagnosed with learning disabilities etc. , but would still benefit from the advice given in the book.
I am grateful to learn that use of any handheld device should be limited, even if it's "good" content. We were considering buying a laptop because our computer is 15 years old. Thanks to this book, we're strongly considering a desktop instead.
This book needed to be written. Highly recommended.
I am grateful to learn that use of any handheld device should be limited, even if it's "good" content. We were considering buying a laptop because our computer is 15 years old. Thanks to this book, we're strongly considering a desktop instead.
This book needed to be written. Highly recommended.
June 29, 2017
As a parent, I've used screens as a babysitter, distraction while feeding fussy toddlers, for educational purposes and entertainment. The book was eye-opening in its highlighting of the link between behavioral problems and screen use. Although at times, it feels like the author over-attributes the cause to screens, the fact remains that screen exposure adversely affects the development of the frontal lobe of the brain that controls executive functions, impulse control among other things that are crucial for the healthy overall growth of children. That is reason enough to curtail their use, the scatter-brained effect it has on adults notwithstanding. Must read if you are a parent.
April 30, 2016
The first two chapters were fascinating, and the plans for doing a 'reset' or cutting back screen time are quite detailed. Overall it felt a little too long and got repetitive to the point that I began skimming, but still a really good read. The reference list is extensive and the book is clearly thoroughly researched.
January 7, 2018
An absolute must read for our age. This book highlights in detail the damage that many common electronic devices do to both our and our children's brains.
Just because technology is new, flashy, and looks pretty doesn't mean it is good. Time will only tell the depth of the impact this is having on our society as a whole.
Just because technology is new, flashy, and looks pretty doesn't mean it is good. Time will only tell the depth of the impact this is having on our society as a whole.
May 8, 2017
Great book with thorough research. We just started our tech fast 6 days ago and are anxious to see what kind of results we'll have with our 5 children.
September 10, 2017
An important work that dares to question the safety in terms of mental health of all the screen time children have.
December 2, 2017
I am ever so glad to have read this book. The reset had quite an impact on my boys. I am very grateful we were able to reset and go back to 30 minutes of time as a privilege they can earn. 😊
June 20, 2019
Dr. Victoria Dunckley shows the effects that everyday use of interactive screen devices — such as computers, video games, smartphones, and tablets — can have. Constant, and sometimes even small amounts of interactive screen time can overstimulate a child’s nervous system, triggering a variety of symptoms and side effects (some of them even mirroring autism and ADHD - or exacerbating actual disorders). Through years of experience and treating children and young adults, she’s discovered that a strict, extended electronic fast improves mood, focus, sleep, and behavior, regardless of the child’s diagnosis. It also reduces the need for medication (or allows the medication to work properly) and renders other treatments more effective. Throughout the book are many examples of kids that have struggled with ESS - electronic screen syndrome - and the benefits of doing the fast.
Wow, this book. To say that it validated things I was already feeling and concerned about is putting it lightly. And it may have terrified me a bit, truthfully, because everything it said was so true, and especially resonated with issues my own children have. I wish I could affect enough change that screen time wasn't so prevalent in our schools today, as that is where a lot of the screen addiction problems with my own children were triggered, because of how their screen use is not at all regulated.
Right now, we are starting the second week of the "reset" and it is going really well. I am truly hoping for good results going forward, but even if the changes aren't drastic, I still know that it will have been very beneficial for my kids.
Wow, this book. To say that it validated things I was already feeling and concerned about is putting it lightly. And it may have terrified me a bit, truthfully, because everything it said was so true, and especially resonated with issues my own children have. I wish I could affect enough change that screen time wasn't so prevalent in our schools today, as that is where a lot of the screen addiction problems with my own children were triggered, because of how their screen use is not at all regulated.
Right now, we are starting the second week of the "reset" and it is going really well. I am truly hoping for good results going forward, but even if the changes aren't drastic, I still know that it will have been very beneficial for my kids.
October 31, 2022
This book represents a 5-month journey we've been taking in our home to evaluate, plan, and then lessen the use of screens in our home. It's changed the way I think about technology for myself, my children, and my students.
As an educator with an advanced degree in EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY, I've seen the growth of screens in school first-hand. Eleven years ago, the iPads in my classroom were novel and increased engagement (but not necessarily learning), after I got better at giving kids meaningful digital tasks, they increased kids ability to create digital products and access information, (but also to distract them and allow them to multitask), now I find myself purposely finding ways to LEAVE the screens because I have kids who THINK they are being productive but are so "busy" multi-tasking between music, games, and class tabs on their device that they have trouble focusing on anything.
Dr. Dunkley addresses and home screen use firmly and seriously, but not in a way to shame, just convict your heart that the promises and "benefits" sold to us from technology companies aren't everything they're cracked up to be.
This book has 3 distinct parts for 3 phases of thinking about screens and ESS (electronic screen syndrome).
If you're not already convinced that your home and/or school environment is giving your kids too much screentime, Part 1 gives you plenty to ponder about our cultural indunation of screens and electromagnetic waves directed at kids.
If the idea of taking away screens from your kids, teens, or young adults feels impossible and unreasonable, Part 2 will give you a step by step game plan forward.
Part 3 will give you tangible, practical advice for life AFTER the screen fast, from how to set up house rules for screens in general, to reframing screentime as a privilege earned from an entitled right, and how to talk to your child's school about it's technology use as well.
As an educator with an advanced degree in EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY, I've seen the growth of screens in school first-hand. Eleven years ago, the iPads in my classroom were novel and increased engagement (but not necessarily learning), after I got better at giving kids meaningful digital tasks, they increased kids ability to create digital products and access information, (but also to distract them and allow them to multitask), now I find myself purposely finding ways to LEAVE the screens because I have kids who THINK they are being productive but are so "busy" multi-tasking between music, games, and class tabs on their device that they have trouble focusing on anything.
Dr. Dunkley addresses and home screen use firmly and seriously, but not in a way to shame, just convict your heart that the promises and "benefits" sold to us from technology companies aren't everything they're cracked up to be.
This book has 3 distinct parts for 3 phases of thinking about screens and ESS (electronic screen syndrome).
If you're not already convinced that your home and/or school environment is giving your kids too much screentime, Part 1 gives you plenty to ponder about our cultural indunation of screens and electromagnetic waves directed at kids.
If the idea of taking away screens from your kids, teens, or young adults feels impossible and unreasonable, Part 2 will give you a step by step game plan forward.
Part 3 will give you tangible, practical advice for life AFTER the screen fast, from how to set up house rules for screens in general, to reframing screentime as a privilege earned from an entitled right, and how to talk to your child's school about it's technology use as well.
August 24, 2023
Recommended by the 1000 Hours Outside podcast. I was already on board with little screen time for our boys (much to their frustration at times), but a few things I learned/hope to put into practice:
+ A slower paced movie (old Disney, Mr Rogers, Sound of Music type) does not arouse the flight/fight stress response in the brain -- but all video games (yes even Minecraft) and most "educational" screen time, do. So all screen time is definitely not equal.
+ 1/2 hour (on the weekend) of screen time is the max that she recommends.
+ Put a timer on the router so it turns off at night when it's not needed to reduce EMF exposure
+ A slower paced movie (old Disney, Mr Rogers, Sound of Music type) does not arouse the flight/fight stress response in the brain -- but all video games (yes even Minecraft) and most "educational" screen time, do. So all screen time is definitely not equal.
+ 1/2 hour (on the weekend) of screen time is the max that she recommends.
+ Put a timer on the router so it turns off at night when it's not needed to reduce EMF exposure
June 6, 2021
I’ve been thinking about doing some sort of screen fast with my kids for awhile so listening to this book validated all of my feelings. The book was long and she restated things a lot - it felt as though she was really trying to make sure she got people to understand - that they would be resistant. But I enjoyed it - loved the science Behind it and the answers to why I doing this is important. I’ll be starting in a few weeks after 2 kid birthdays :) I’m excited to see what happens for all of us
May 14, 2021
E. is 1. Several times she has gotten ahold of charging electronics. Her tantrums when we remove them from her(even though she hasn't played a single thing---only succeeded in locking us out for 15 minutes) are noticeably longer than when we take away food, or a book, or (her current fave) a paper towel.
The book was repetitive and, thus, easily skimmable. But the info was interesting the first time. And, as she says, what have you got to lose? Try it out and prove her wrong. I probably will soon.
The book was repetitive and, thus, easily skimmable. But the info was interesting the first time. And, as she says, what have you got to lose? Try it out and prove her wrong. I probably will soon.
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