Rock Bridge Psychological Asso.

Dr. Carmen Santana posted…

Some suggestions for parents struggling with increased screentime during the summer months.

pages.choa.org Summer is here! That usually means more freedom, more flexibility and more unsupervised time. While the break is a great time for families to exhale and relax from the craziness of the school year, it's important to not let safety fall by the wayside. And that includes digital safety (YouTube, group...

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Nearly 1.2 billion people worldwide are living with mental disorders | CNN Nearly 1.2 billion people had a mental disorder in 2023, a new study has found — reflecting a 95.5% increase since 1990.

It is important for them to see their parents engage in their own mindfulness activities that promote their own self-regulation. Children learn a great deal by observation. If parents cannot self-regulate then teaching them mindfulness exercises will be of limited value.

For parenting guidance, contact our office:
Arlene Noriega, PhD 404-777-3929
or Carmen Santana, PhD 770-359-7485

Sort of—but with an important distinction. Teaching mindfulness to children can be helpful for self-regulation, but it is not usually considered a primary discipline tactic in the same way that clear limits or consequences are.
Research on mindfulness programs in schools and clinical settings shows that mindfulness can improve attention, emotional regulation, and stress management in children. Meta-analyses of school-based mindfulness interventions generally find small to moderate improvements in things like impulse control, anxiety, and classroom behavior. In other words, mindfulness can help kids manage their feelings better, which may indirectly reduce misbehavior.
However, mindfulness has limitations as a discipline strategy. When a child is already upset, angry, or defiant, the brain systems responsible for reflection and calm thinking are often temporarily offline. In those moments, asking a child to “be mindful” or “take deep breaths” may not work very well. Most evidence-based parenting programs still rely on clear signals, limits, and brief removal from reinforcement (such as breaktime or rest periods) to stop behavior in the moment.
Where mindfulness shines is outside the conflict moment. Practicing breathing, noticing feelings, or calming the body when things are already calm can strengthen the child’s ability to regulate themselves later.
A practical way to think about it:
• Discipline tools stop behavior now.
• Mindfulness tools build self-control over time.
The most effective parenting systems usually use both—clear limits for immediate behavior and skills like mindfulness to help children gradually develop stronger self-regulation.

How many of us get paralyzed when confronted with a task or project that we feel needs to be perfect??

Don’t just take the devices away, substitute with engaging WITH your child in a fun activity.

Kids aren’t wired for constant stimulation…
they’re wired for meaningful experiences 🌍

🧠 What children repeat, their brains learn to prefer.

And right now? Fast, high-reward inputs are everywhere. This is addictive and drives children to obsessively seek out more input from screens and processed food (without actually enjoying it more)

But the kinds of experiences that actually build regulation, resilience, and confidence are slower… quieter… and often overlooked.

Like:
✅ Sunlight on their face.
✅ Getting lost in a book.
✅ Laughing until they can’t breathe.
✅ Being bored enough to create something new.
✅ Feeling proud after doing something hard.

These moments don’t compete with screens in intensity—
but they outperform them in development.

They build:
• Attention
• Emotional regulation
• Connection
• A sense of capability

✨ Not all dopamine is created equal.

The goal isn’t to eliminate joy or stimulation—t’s to help children experience the kind that builds them, not depletes them.

📷 CREDIT: Inspired by orginal image by