Join us for a thoughtful conversation with Montessori educators and parents, Aubrey and David Hargis, co-founders of Child of the Redwoods, as they explore the realities of raising children in a tech-saturated world.
In this session, you’ll gain practical tools and grounded insights on how to manage screen time with intention — all through a Montessori lens.
Aubrey and David share their personal journey as educators and parents navigating technology with their own children, while offering concrete suggestions to help you find balance in your home.
You’ll learn:
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How to recognize healthy vs. unhealthy tech use
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Why screen time can feel so addictive — and what to do about it
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How to integrate digital media with hands-on learning
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When and how to set boundaries that actually stick
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Why YouTube Kids can be problematic — and how to use YouTube differently
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Tips for modeling mindful screen use as a parent
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How to involve your child in tech decisions in age-appropriate ways
This session also includes real-life examples, a Q&A with parents, and a compassionate approach that understands the pressures modern families face. If you’ve ever wondered how Montessori fits into today’s digital world, this conversation is for you.
In this video
A 4-year-old who wants more TV, and two parents who don't agree on how much is okay. Aubrey and David Hargis talk with parents of young children about screens at home, from kids' apps to YouTube. Questions include signs that screen use is turning into a problem, a meltdown when the screen goes off, and the parent who is on a laptop too. The last part looks at reading on a screen versus paper books, and whether audiobooks are okay.
Chapters
- 0:00 Meet Aubrey and David Hargis and why hands-on comes first
- 4:05 Shifting expert advice and why zero screens isn't the answer
- 11:31 When partners disagree about screens, and scary headlines
- 14:52 How much TV for a 4-year-old and why apps don't teach colors
- 18:31 Why ding-ding kids' apps work against intrinsic motivation
- 24:21 Using an animal documentary as a spark for hands-on learning
- 27:12 Signs that your child's screen use is healthy or addictive
- 33:43 Good uses together: bird ID, world music, dictation, sky map
- 41:35 YouTube without YouTube Kids: watch together, pause and talk
- 46:23 Parental controls, per-show limits and riding out tantrums
- 52:17 Letting your child help set screen rules as they grow
- 57:47 When a parent games or works on a laptop: model stopping
- 1:06:31 Reading on a screen vs paper books, and are audiobooks okay
- 1:09:50 Don't make screen time a reward, offer it as one choice
