Every family has their own unique relationship with technology. There's rarely a clear right or wrong approach, as long as everyone in the household is healthy and the home environment is peaceful.

Children are incredible observers. They learn not just from what we say, but by watching everything we do. This is especially true when it comes to our relationship with technology.

Technology, like food, is now a permanent part of our lives. Just as we all need to develop a healthy relationship with eating, we need to develop a healthy relationship with technology.

Just as some children have food sensitivities, some children can be particularly sensitive to certain types of media or technology in general. This has to do with individual differences in how our brains process information.

"Secondhand screens" is a term we use to describe what happens when one person's screen use unintentionally affects the people around them. This creates some unique social challenges.

While we have well-established social norms for most public behaviors, we're still figuring out the rules around device use given modern screen technology is still a brand new societal issue.

Many parents cite safety as their primary reason for giving their children smartphones at an early age, or for resisting phone-free policies at school. But here's where we need to look at data so we can stay as objective as possible.

The surveillance parenting trend comes from a place of love and concern. Parents want to keep their children safe, and help them succeed. However, our experts are warning about some unexpected consequences.

American biologist Edward O. Wilson put our current challenge perfectly when he said: "The real problem of humanity is we have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions and god-like technologies."

In this session we're talking about how our ancient brains interact with modern technology. We'll look at three more evolutionary principles that help explain why technology can be so challenging for our kids to manage.

Our brains release dopamine when we accomplish, learn, or discover something new. This chemical reward makes us want to repeat these feel-good behaviors - that's why scientists call it the reward circuit.

Social comparison, FOMO, and social exclusion have always existed - they were part of how all of us grew up. But technology super-charges these natural social pressures because it makes them more public and more amplified.

Technology is specifically designed to distract us and keep us engaged with our devices longer. Software engineers use sophisticated techniques to capture and hold our attention.

All platforms - whether they're texting, games, or social media - are specifically engineered to keep us engaged for as long as possible. Why? Because the longer we stay on these platforms, the more ads we see and the more likely we are to make purchases.

Technology itself isn't bad. In fact, it's an incredible tool that's transformed our world in amazing ways. But like any powerful tool, we need to understand both its benefits and its challenges to use it wisely.

An unhealthy relationship is one where technology controls us - when we can't go long without checking our devices, when screen time replaces real-world experiences, or when it starts affecting our physical health. A healthy relationship, on the other hand, means being mindful and conscious about both what and how much media we consume.

While experts generally agree that limiting screen time is important, what matters more is how your child reacts to the media they're consuming.

If your child feels better after using technology - more relaxed, satisfied, or content - they're likely getting the right amount. But if they feel worse, more agitated, or struggle to stop, they may be developing a more compulsive relationship with that technology.

Just as we carefully introduced new foods to our babies, pacing technology introduction helps condition our children's brains to adapt to adult technology slowly and gradually. This isn't about restriction - it's about development.

There are many kid and adolescent-friendly technology options that allow for a more gradual approach. Think of it like getting a driver's license: we start with a learner's permit, then supervised driving, before a teenager gets full driving privileges.