Nicole Runyon — Why Screens Are Rewiring Our Kids (and What We Can Do About It)

In this powerful episode, Michelle sits down with former child psychotherapist and author Nicole Runyon to tackle a controversial question every modern parent faces:
Is technology quietly hijacking our kids’ mental health—and what can we do about it?

Nicole shares:

📉 The silent epidemic no one saw coming. In 2014, Nicole began seeing a wave of children with severe depression, anxiety, and self-harm—and most had no trauma history. The common thread? Excessive screen time in developmentally critical years.

👀 The myth of the “calm” iPad kid. They might look regulated—but neurodivergent and complex kids are often overstimulated and dysregulated underneath. Nicole explains why tech is not the sensory regulation tool we think it is.

💡 Why tech is today’s pacifier—and how parents can say no. Nicole offers tools to help parents set boundaries and understand why their own tech use is the first place to start.

⚠️ The developmental danger of convenience. From weather apps to Amazon Prime, Nicole shows how even small conveniences rob kids of critical thinking, problem-solving, and personal responsibility.

📱 The “digital detox” that changed everything. Michelle shares her own story of removing tech from her home, how her son went from breaking everything to calming down—until one flight to Brazil brought it all back.

Quote to tape on the fridge:
 “Big Tech is no match for a developing brain. We wouldn’t give our kids a beer to survive a long flight. Why are we handing them something just as addictive?”

Whether you’ve got a screen-obsessed tween, a Roblox meltdown brewing, or a house full of devices you regret ever buying, Nicole’s message is clear: You are enough. And you have more power than you think.

👤 About Nicole Runyon
Nicole Runyon is a licensed psychotherapist turned parenting educator and the author of [Insert Book Title]. She spent 20 years working with kids and teens facing trauma, anxiety, and severe depression—and now helps families reclaim calm, connection, and clarity in a tech-saturated world.

🔗 Connect with Nicole Runyon
• 📘 Website: nicolerunyon.com
• 📸 Instagram: @igenerationmentalhealth
• 👥 Facebook: Nicole Runyon
• 💼 LinkedIn: Nicole Runyon, LMSW

#ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #DigitalParenting #NeurodivergentKids #ScreenTimeStruggles #ParentingInTheDigitalAge #NicoleRunyon #MichelleChoairy #TechAddiction #iPadTantrums #RobloxMeltdowns #ConsciousParenting

Listen to this episode and more at
https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions

🎧 Connect with Michelle:
Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com
Instagram: @michellechoairy
Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group

💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected]

🧠 Want simple tools that actually work?
Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf