Instagram Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube

Navigating the Digital Jungle

With Sue Atkins and Friends

Episode 3: Mental wellness for kids in the digital world

Click here to to download the transcription of Episode 3: Mental wellness for kids in the digital world
Navigating the Digital Jungle: Mental wellness for kids in the digital world
 
In this episode of ‘Navigating the Digital Jungle’, Sue Atkins, Angeline Corvaglia and Marneta Viegas explore the impact of technology on children’s mental health and well-being. They discuss essential components of good mental health in children and the negative effects of technology overuse, such as reduced physical activity and sleep disruption. Angeline offers practical advice for parents to balance screen time at home, while Marneta shares insights from her Relax Kids programme designed to support children’s mental and emotional health. 
 
And Sue offers her ‘ING’ ideas for finding Balance with Activities Off Screen: like climbing, biking, playing, cooking, baking, creating to roller skating or exploring in the garden, to make it compelling to come together and connect.
 
The episode also features tips for reducing screen dependency, maintaining healthy tech habits, and the importance of simplicity in mental health practices. The show concludes with listener questions, strategies for managing tech use, and practical solutions for digital detox.
 
 
Useful timings
00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview
01:23 Understanding Children’s Mental Health
02:50 Technology’s Impact on Wellbeing
04:13 Balancing Tech at Home
06:22 Relax Kids: Tools for Mental Health
09:14 The Importance of Simplicity and Practicality
15:20 School Programs and Resources
26:30 Listener Questions and Tips
34:31 Final Thoughts and Farewell
 
 
About our guest
Marneta Viegas founded Relax Kids – the UK’s first and best organisation to create tools and techniques to help children and teens relax and self-regulate.  Marneta is the published author of 19 children’s books that help children manage their anxiety, emotions and sleep. Marneta has also developed a unique method of assisting children to feel calm and has trained over 6,000 Relax Kids coaches and 4,000 school teachers in this Award-winning system. Over the last 25 years, Marneta has helped support over 5 million children from 52 countries.  
 
Links for Marneta:
Facebook @relaxkidsofficial 
Insta @relax_kids 
Twitter@relaxkids 
TikTok @relax_kids 
LinkedIn @relaxkids 
 

Useful resources  

What to do when they say “I’m BORED!” – let the BORED JAR do the talking!

 
Rising Above: Silencing the Negativity
 
Why Can’t I Put My Phone Down 
https://vimeo.com/918240180
 
 

***In collaboration with ***

Thank you to our global digital wellness partners World Digital Detox Day. 

The ‘World Digital Detox Day’ initiative was set up by Zep Wellness Foundation, a nonprofit organisation on a mission to empower wellness worldwide. The foundation strongly believes in setting healthy guidelines and boundaries for society’s relationship with technology. By starting this education from an early age, they aimed to prevent the development of ”digital dementia” and preserve essential elements of human interaction and well-being in an era dominated by technology.