Online world is important to our children

Being offline and left out

Bringing online rules into offline world

Lessons from gaming together: Natalie Pang

Measure screen use by purpose, not time

Consequences of parents being glued to screens

Children naturally upset when no more screens

Parents find it hard to set boundaries

How to better connect with a child offline and online. 

Synopsis: Join us for a five-part limited-edition podcast series this November by The Straits Times where we discuss the challenges of raising kids in a world that's always plugged in.

For many children and teens, there is little distinction between the online and offline world. 

Many parents worry that screens are getting in the way of their relationship with their children. 

But instead of pulling our children away from their digital worlds, should parents step into them, and journey with our children?

In this episode, Host Elisha Tushara is joined by Natalie Pang, a professor at the National University of Singapore. 

Having done research on digital well-being and online harms, and as the mother of a teenage boy, she recommends gaming with your children.

Highlights (click/tap above):

0:00 Intro 

4:05 Why the online world is important to our children

7:42 Being offline and being left out

8:30 Bringing online rules into the offline world

10:50 What I learned about my child by gaming together: Natalie Pang

14:21 Screen use: Measuring by purpose, instead of time

17:55 What happens when parents are glued to their screens themselves?

21:22 It’s natural for children to get upset when screentime is over

26:02 Why do some parents find it hard to set screentime boundaries?

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Read more ST Screen Timeout articles: https://str.sg/screentimeout 

Host: Elisha Tushara (elisha@sph.com.sg)

Read Elisha’s articles: https://str.sg/5VVJ

Follow Elisha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/94WA

Produced and edited by: Studio+65 and Fa’izah Sani

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Amelia Teng

—

Follow Screens Down, Look Up limited series every Monday (Nov 2 - 30):

Channel: https://str.sg/bKan 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/57aK 

Spotify: https://str.sg/agZP 

YouTube: https://str.sg/yxuv 

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

—

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

—

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#screensdownlookup

How to better connect with a child offline and online.&nbsp;
Synopsis: Join us for a five-part limited-edition podcast series this November by The Straits Times where we discuss the challenges of raising kids in a world that's always plugged in.
For many children and teens, there is little distinction between the online and offline world.&nbsp;
Many parents worry that screens are getting in the way of their relationship with their children.&nbsp;
But instead of pulling our children away from their digital worlds, should parents step into them, and journey with our children?
In this episode, Host Elisha Tushara is joined by Natalie Pang, a professor at the National University of Singapore.&nbsp;
Having done research on digital well-being and online harms, and as the mother of a teenage boy, she recommends gaming with your children.
Highlights (click/tap above):
0:00 Intro&nbsp;
4:05 Why the online world is important to our children
7:42 Being offline and being left out
8:30 Bringing online rules into the offline world
10:50 What I learned about my child by gaming together: Natalie Pang
14:21 Screen use: Measuring by purpose, instead of time
17:55 What happens when parents are glued to their screens themselves?
21:22 It&rsquo;s natural for children to get upset when screentime is over
26:02 Why do some parents find it hard to set screentime boundaries?
&mdash;
Read more ST Screen Timeout articles: <a href="https://str.sg/screentimeout">https://str.sg/screentimeout</a>&nbsp;
Host: Elisha Tushara (<a href="mailto:elisha@sph.com.sg">elisha@sph.com.sg</a>)
Read Elisha&rsquo;s articles: <a href="https://str.sg/5VVJ">https://str.sg/5VVJ</a>
Follow Elisha on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/94WA">https://str.sg/94WA</a>
Produced and edited by: Studio+65 and Fa&rsquo;izah Sani
Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Amelia Teng
&mdash;
Follow Screens Down, Look Up limited series every Monday (Nov 2 - 30):
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/bKan">https://str.sg/bKan</a>&nbsp;
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/57aK">https://str.sg/57aK</a>&nbsp;
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/agZP">https://str.sg/agZP</a>&nbsp;
YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/yxuv">https://str.sg/yxuv</a>&nbsp;
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
&mdash;
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
&mdash;
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB"> https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a>
#screensdownlookup

Are screens coming between you and your child?

Synopsis: Join us for a five-part limited-edition podcast series by The Straits Times from Nov 2-30, 2026, where we discuss the challenges of raising kids in a world that's always plugged in.

Every parent knows the feeling of the digital tug-of-war. You’re exhausted, the kids are restless and the glowing screen seems like the only way that can get them to be still. 

We’re not here to tell you how bad phones are and to put them down. We want to sit down with experts and parents to unpack the realities of raising children, listen to what the science is saying about kids and screens, and have honest conversations about what childhood looks like today in a world that’s always plugged in.  

If you’re a parent wanting more connection, more play and fewer screen battles, this is the right place for you.

Host: Elisha Tushara

Produced and edited by: Studio+65 and Fa'izah Sani

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Amelia Teng

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Join us for a five-part limited-edition podcast series by The Straits Times from Nov 2-30, 2026, where we discuss the challenges of raising kids in a world that's always plugged in.
Every parent knows the feeling of the digital tug-of-war. You&rsquo;re exhausted, the kids are restless and the glowing screen seems like the only way that can get them to be still.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;re not here to tell you how bad phones are and to put them down. We want to sit down with experts and parents to unpack the realities of raising children, listen to what the science is saying about kids and screens, and have honest conversations about what childhood looks like today in a world that&rsquo;s always plugged in.&nbsp;&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re a parent wanting more connection, more play and fewer screen battles, this is the right place for you.
Host: Elisha Tushara
Produced and edited by: Studio+65 and Fa'izah Sani
Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Amelia Teng
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Screens Down, Look Up

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