Generation Zombie: How Screen Time is Hijacking My Child's Brain Development with Dr. Charlotte Armitage

I'm sharing something that honestly terrifies me as a parent - how our devices are literally rewiring our children's brains from as early as 4 months old.

Today I'm joined by Dr. Charlotte Armitage, author of Generation Zombie, and what she reveals about screen time and brain development will change how you think about tech in your home.

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What we dive into:

• Why I discovered that babies as young as 4 months are now interacting with screens (and what this does to their developing brains)
• How I learned that 20% of children starting school need speech therapy - and the connection to our device use
• Why dopamine addiction from screens is creating behaviors that look exactly like ADHD
• The shocking truth about how prams now come with iPad holders for babies
• What happened when I realized I was modeling constant device use without knowing it
• Why AI chatbots are the next level of concern for our kids' social development

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This episode is essential if you're dealing with:

• A child who can't focus or sit still at school
• Constant battles over screen time limits
• Worries about your own device modeling
• Questions about when (or if) to give your child a smartphone
• Concerns about your child's social skills and friendships

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I'll be honest - some of what Charlotte shares made me want to throw all our devices out the window! But she also gives us hope with practical strategies we can implement right now. We talk about creating device-free zones, the importance of eye contact during feeding, and why our children don't need to "learn" technology young.

So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa, and enjoy the conversation…

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More from Charlotte:

• Generation Zombie Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/generation-zombie-raising-healthy-humans-in-a-world/id1814827224
• Get the Book NOW - https://amzn.eu/d/eSVeQ9a
• Follow on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drcharlottearmitage
• Website - https://charlottearmitage.co.uk/

Highlights from this episode:

03:57 - New tech means new challenges

08:20 - RIP IRL

14:10 - Attachment issues from tech use

19:44 - A boom in speech and language therapy

24:38 - ADHD and technology

32:15 - What is Generation Zombie?

36:41 - Impact into teen years

42:28 - The risks of AI

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💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please share with at least one friend

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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