{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Hot Topics Ep. 4 - Screen Time & Technology Balance for Kids","description":"In this episode of Hot Topics, the hosts, J Fotsch and Will Cox welcome Dr. Leonard B. Horton III, assistant professor of journalism at Missouri State University, to explore how fathers can foster healthy screen time habits in the digital age. With humor and honesty, the conversation spans early parenting decisions to teen technology use, revealing both the risks and the opportunities that screen-based media present for families. Key points include the importance of modeling healthy tech behavior, understanding the hidden algorithms behind social media and recognizing the emotional vulnerabilities children face in digital spaces. Dr. Horton emphasizes intentional parenting and consistent communication, sharing practical tools like monitored phones, weekly check-ins and family goal-setting to keep kids grounded and connected. Episode Highlights [05:03] \u2013 \u201cYou give them something to do... and what that does is it goes from 15 minutes and it turns into an hour.\u201d [06:42] \u2013 \u201cYou can\u2019t just give a kid a device and tell them to figure it out. You\u2019ve got to be hands-on with it.\u201d [12:46] \u2013 \u201cAlgorithms influence our choices and what we see on social media.\u201d [16:27] \u2013 \u201cWhen you're not included in that group, you're really not included.\u201d [21:16] \u2013 \u201cI would get an alert\u2026 so I could have a conversation.\u201d [29:53] \u2013 \u201cEvery Sunday night\u2026 no TVs, no phones\u2026 what is one goal you have for this week?\u201d Resources\ud83d\udce9 Sign up for the Good Dads Newsletter and never miss a podcast! \ud83c\udf10 Learn more at gooddads.com \ud83d\udce7 Questions or comments? Reach out to Good Dads at info@gooddads.com ","author_name":"Good Dads Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/www.gooddads.com\/","html":"