The rules you MUST set for your child in the social media era w/ Sarah Jayne Dunn
Help! My Child's AnxiousShow Notes
When should you give your child their first smartphone? And how do you protect them from what they might see online?
Former Hollyoaks star Sarah Jayne Dunn joins Vanessa Feltz and child therapist Saskia Joss to discuss one of the biggest dilemmas facing modern parents: children, smartphones and social media.
Sarah's son Stanley is now 10, and while he doesn't yet have a phone, she's already thinking about what happens when he starts secondary school.
In this episode, they discuss:
When children should get their first smartphone and what rules parents should set.
The dangers of social media algorithms, explicit content and online peer pressure.
Sarah's experience growing up on Hollyoaks, the pressures of body image and finding confidence through pole fitness.
How simple family activities can help children feel connected without screens.
Plus, Saskia shares practical advice on managing screen time, having honest conversations with your children and creating safer online boundaries.
Would you give your 10-year-old a smartphone? Let us know in the comments.
Subscribe to Help! My Child's Anxious for more honest conversations about parenting, childhood anxiety and family life.
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helpmychildsanxiouspod/
Chapters: 00:00–00:32 The dangers of social media for children 00:32–01:25 Meet Sarah Jayne Dunn 01:25–03:24 When should children get their first phone? 03:24–06:35 Setting rules before giving your child a smartphone 06:35–08:53 The disturbing content children can encounter online 08:53–11:02 Keeping children safe online and at playdates 11:02–13:07 Algorithms, misinformation and peer pressure 13:07–15:46 Are basic phones safer for children? 15:46–17:42 Setting healthier screen-time boundaries 17:42–18:03 Break 18:03–20:41 Growing up on Hollyoaks at just 14 20:41–23:21 Photoshopping, sexualisation and body image 23:21–25:08 OnlyFans, trolls and finding confidence 25:08–27:14 How pole fitness helps Sarah's mental wellbeing 27:14–30:21 Sarah's favourite screen-free family activity 30:21–32:13 How pets help children feel connected
More from Help! My Child's Anxious
From birthday parties and loud noises to school and social situations, everyday experiences can feel overwhelming for an anxious child. But what's actually happening, and what can parents do to help?
The BBC has cut scenes from Horrible Histories, including sketches about child labour and slavery. But are we protecting children from frightening subjects, or avoiding conversations they actually need?
A new study suggests baby girls may be more drawn to faces than baby boys from the first hours of life. But does that actually mean parents should raise boys and girls differently?
Are today’s children really a “snowflake generation”, or are they dealing with levels of anxiety that previous generations simply didn’t face? Vanessa Feltz and child therapist Saskia Joss unpack the growing mental health crisis among children and young people, following Professor Peter Fonagy’s argument that today’s young people are not “snowflakes” and that it has genuinely become harder to be young. Saskia explains why the pandemic may have left a lasting imprint on children’s anxiety, how prolonged emotional states can influence the way we respond to the world, and why parents should listen before immediately trying to fix an anxious child’s problem. They also answer a difficult question from a parent whose seven-year-old has started calling herself “fat” and restricting her food, discussing body image, self-esteem and what parents can do when children begin criticising their bodies. Plus, Vanessa discovers that sometimes the best childhood memories cost absolutely nothing… provided you have an enormous marrow. Subscribe for more honest conversations about childhood, parenting and anxiety. Produced and distributed by 11-29 Media.
Vanessa Feltz and child therapist Saskia Joss look at the explosion of mental-health content online, why some children are identifying strongly with diagnostic labels, and how parents can take their concerns seriously without accepting everything an algorithm tells them. They discuss misleading ADHD content on TikTok, why symptoms can look different between children, what teachers can help parents spot, when a professional assessment may be useful and why children can often receive helpful support even before a diagnosis. Plus, Saskia answers a parent's question about mysterious stomach aches before school and explains how anxiety can produce very real physical symptoms. Help My Child's Anxious with Vanessa Feltz and Saskia Joss. This podcast provides general information and discussion. It is not a substitute for individual medical or mental-health advice. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/HQyo0clazko