A Smile Is A Curve That Puts A Lot of Things Straight!

🌿 Parenting Unplugged

Helping families, carers & professionals thrive in children’s digital and real worlds

👋 Greetings to all the adults making a difference in children’s lives every day!

Welcome back to Parenting Unplugged — my weekly space for parents, carers, teachers, and professionals who want to raise children with confidence and calm in our fast-moving, screen-saturated world.

Inside this edition, you’ll find:

✨ Age-specific tips for toddlers, primary children & teens

✨ Highlights from my blog desk

✨ Fresh book recommendations from my Parenting Book Club

✨ This week’s Power Hour spotlight for professionals & working parents

✨ A featured voice doing brilliant work with families

Let’s dive in.

🍼 Early Years & Toddlers

🌱 Small moments, big impact.

Tip of the Month: Narrate your day. When you’re cooking, folding laundry, or walking to the shops, talk through what you’re doing. This simple habit builds vocabulary and connection in powerful ways.

Did you know? Research shows that back-and-forth conversations (even with toddlers) do more for brain development than screen-based learning apps.

🎒 Primary Years

🧩 Building routines and resilience.

Tip of the Month: Create a “Tech-Free Treasure Hour” once a week. No screens — just board games, Lego, baking, or storytelling. Children come to value this as sacred family time.

Try this: Ask your child, “What was the best question you asked today?” — it keeps curiosity alive and puts the focus on learning, not just outcomes.

🎧 Secondary & Teens

🌍 Growing independence, guided with care.

Tip of the Week: Encourage teens to delay responding to messages. Even a 10-minute pause before replying helps them resist peer pressure and develop healthy digital boundaries.

Conversation starter: “What’s one online trend you think is silly? Why do you think people follow it anyway?”

✍️ From My Blog Desk

Here are three thought-provoking reads I’ve been writing lately:

1️⃣ The Back Alley of the Internet: Why 4chan Isn’t Safe for Kids Parents often think of TikTok or Instagram as risky — but hidden forums can be far more dangerous.

https://navigatingthedigitaljungle.com/the-back-alley-of-the-internet-why-4chan-isnt-safe-for-kids/

2️⃣ Talking to Kids About AI: Age-by-Age Scripts for Parents Practical, age-tailored scripts to start the conversations we can’t afford to avoid.

https://navigatingthedigitaljungle.com/talking-to-kids-about-ai-age-by-age-scripts-for-parents/

3️⃣ Why Turning Your Phone to Grayscale Helps with Screen Addiction A small, simple tweak that can make a huge difference to focus and wellbeing.

https://navigatingthedigitaljungle.com/why-turning-your-phone-to-grayscale-helps-with-screen-addiction-especially-for-kids/

4️⃣ 8 Reasons Why Rough & Tumble Play, Roughhousing or Horseplay is Good for Kids.

I was sent in this question for my ‘Don’t Stew- Ask Sue’ feature on  The Sue Atkins Parenting Show podcast.

My husband plays very rough with my 3-year-old daughter, but when they play, my husband hangs her upside down by the ankles at some point surprising her, for example, they are playing wrestling, he tickles her, flips her, throws her into the air and catches her, then after a while my daughter ends up hanging upside down, he has that habit of lifting her like this, I did not demand anything from him because I saw that my daughter is enjoying it and laughing, but I don’t know if it is okay. Even when it’s time to finish playing and go to sleep, my husband hangs her upside down and thus takes her to her room. ~ Yanette

Don’t be afraid to let your kids get a little boisterous with rough and tumble play. A little horseplay helps them grow!

Believe it or not, wrestling, flips, upside down games, chasing, and other rough-and-tumble play all have huge benefits for young children. Yes, it can be scary to watch, but it’s worth it.

It’s also sometimes also known as rowdy play and by around the age  of 3 or 4 child-led rough and tumble play is at its peak—but it can also continue all the way up to age 9 or 10 and can even benefit kids older than that.

Read on to learn why.

https://sueatkinsparentingcoach.com/2021/07/the-art-of-roughhousing-or-horse-play/

From my Parenting Book Club:

• What’s the Big Secret? Talking about Sex with Girls and Boys — Laurene Krasny Brown & Marc Brown https://sueatkinsparentingcoach.com/book_review/whats-the-big-secret-talking-about-sex-with-girls-and-boys-by-laurene-krasny-brown-and-marc-brown/

A sensitive, age-appropriate guide to helping children understand their bodies, relationships, and boundaries. A useful resource for parents and educators looking to foster open, respectful conversations.

• The Art of Roughhousing: Good Old-Fashioned Horseplay and Why Every Kid Needs It — Anthony T. DeBenedet https://sueatkinsparentingcoach.com/book_review/the-art-of-roughhousing-good-old-fashioned-horseplay-and-why-every-kid-needs-it-by-anthony-t-debenedet/

Emphasises the importance of playful physical interaction, unstructured movement, and joy as ways to build confidence, connection, and emotional resilience in children.

 Other book recommendations

• “The Yes Brain” by Dr. Dan Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson — How to help kids cultivate curiosity, resilience, and emotional balance.
• “Raising Girls Who Like Themselves” by Kasey Edwards & Christopher Scanlon — A modern guide to confidence and self-worth.
• “The Explosive Child” by Dr. Ross Greene — For parents navigating challenging behaviour with empathy and structure.

💡 Spotlight on Gerardo Zúñiga Hernández

Gerardo Zúñiga Hernández

Gerardo Zúñiga Hernández is the founder of KidsNetGuard a pioneering organisation dedicated to safeguarding children in the digital realm. With expertise in IT auditing and cybersecurity, Gerardo has authored influential works such as Aventuras Seguras en la Red and El Arte de la Guerra Cibernética, both of which provide valuable insights into online safety for young users.

Beyond his written contributions, Gerardo actively engages with the community through his LinkedIn presence, sharing practical advice and raising awareness about the importance of digital protection for children.

🔗 Connect with Gerardo on LinkedIn

👉 Learn more here: KidsNetGuard – Aprendiendo sobre cyber seguridad con diversión

🤝 Partner Spotlight: Parent Support Networks

One of the things I absolutely love about my work is collaborating with companies that genuinely care about their employees’ families, like John Lewis. John Lewis & Partners

Through their parent support groups and workplace networks, I get to share practical parenting tips, run workshops, and connect directly with mums, dads, carers, and colleagues who are navigating the same challenges we all face in a digital world.

Here's why I love working with them:

• Real Impact: These networks allow me to reach families who might not otherwise have access to parenting guidance.
• Collaborative Energy: Staff are eager to learn, share experiences, and implement strategies that actually work.
• Community Focused: It’s about creating a culture where parents feel supported — and that support trickles down to children.

Working with parent networks in companies like John Lewis reminds me that parenting doesn’t happen in isolation. When organisations invest in family wellbeing, everyone benefits: children, parents, and workplaces alike.

Thank you Rebecca Candy Leanne Chalmers for regularly inviting me to work with your parents & for your very kind words.

How to support working parents struggling to navigate the digital jungle

📩 Book your Power Hour here and bring confidence-boosting strategies straight into your setting.

🎤 Podcast Highlight

🎧 Catch my Navigating the Digital Jungle conversation with Marneta Viegas from Relax Kids Mental Wellness for Kids in the Digital World

FOR 25 YEARS, Relax Kids has helped thousands of teachers and professionals and worked with over 40 councils and organisations support children’s mental and emotional wellbeing with their simple 7-step method.

Used in homes, nurseries, schools and organisations, Relax Kids techniques are trusted by thousands of parents and professionals.

In this episode of ‘Navigating the Digital Jungle’, Angeline Corvaglia and Marneta join me to explore the impact of technology on children’s mental health and well-being. We 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 I offer my ‘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.

👉 Listen here:

Also available on all podcast platforms from Spotify to Apple

My latest book:

Navigating the Digital Jungle: Family Tech Scripts

Now with Global, Culturally Tailored Scripts

Start meaningful, age-appropriate tech conversations that build connection and confidence — now adapted for families worldwide, from Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Russia, Africa, India, South America, and more. 

Whether tackling screen time, gaming, or online safety, this guide offers practical scripts, expert tips, and cultural insights to help families navigate the digital world together.

https://navigatingthedigitaljungle.com/product/navigating-the-digital-jungle-scripts-to-start-family-tech-conversations/

✨ Final Thought

Why a Smile is a Curve That Puts a Lot of Things Straight

I'm always saying, “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” And it’s true — a simple smile carries far more power than most of us realise.

A smile can:

• Diffuse tension — even in moments of frustration, a genuine smile softens the hardest edges of conflict.
• Create connection — eyes meet, hearts open, and suddenly a bridge forms between people.
• Boost wellbeing — the act of smiling releases endorphins, reduces stress, and lifts mood — for both the giver and receiver.
• Encourage resilience — in children, a smile from a trusted adult signals safety, love, and hope, helping them navigate challenges.
• Spread positivity — one smile can ripple outward, affecting everyone in its orbit.

In the digital jungle, where screens can dominate our interactions and stress can pile up, a smile is one of the simplest, most human acts of kindness we can offer. It costs nothing, yet its impact is immeasurable.

Next time your child resists, your teen rolls their eyes, or a parent struggles to manage it all, remember the curve that can put a lot straight. Smile first. Everything else often falls into place.

Have a great week

Sue

P.S. If you found this newsletter useful, please share it with parents, carers, teachers, or professionals in your network who might benefit. Together, we can help families thrive.