Plugged In & Tuned Out: When gaming and screen use becomes a problem

A masterclass with Maggie Dent and Brad Marshall

Join Maggie and Brad live on Thursday 20th July, 8pm (Sydney time) - including live Q&A
Sign up now and get lifetime access to the replay and additional resources

An online masterclass exploring why gaming, social media and streaming can be so addictive and what we can do about it.

Screens are now a ubiquitous part of our lives. And there’s no doubt that screen use has become a major pain point for parents, particularly those of us with tweens and teens. Whether they’re gaming, chatting, streaming or scrolling on social media – our kids (and we) are increasingly spending much of our lives on devices. And the implications of this are broader than we can imagine.

But what do we do when our tween or teen’s screen use, especially their gaming, becomes problematic? How do we know when their behaviour has moved beyond enthusiasm into unhealthy excessive use or, worse, a disorder? Why are boys more likely to struggle with problematic gaming?

And above all, how can parents work with their adolescents to have healthy boundaries?

In this masterclass, parenting author Maggie Dent teams up with ‘The Unplugged Psychologist’ Brad Marshall to equip parents with simple, powerful strategies for reclaiming their tween/teen’s lives in a screen-saturated culture.

Register now


With a special focus on gaming and social media, Maggie and Brad will explore:

→ What are the impacts of being raised as a digital native?
→ What makes social media, streaming, gaming and screens in general SO addictive?
→ What strategies the gaming/screen industry use to get us hooked (and how we can counter these).
Do digital agreements help families with healthy boundaries?
→ When do we worry? What are the warning signs of an unhealthy balance?
→ Why and how do parents monitor and manage screen time rather than simply expecting our tweens/teens to learn self-control?
The 7 steps parents can take to help manage problematic usage, without destroying your relationship with your child.


As well as the live event, this masterclass will also include some additional video content. We'll hear from a young man who has transformed his relationship with gaming from being all-consuming and at the expense of his physical and mental health – to no longer controlling him. Isaac Waddell, founder of the Goldfish Academy will share his inspiring story with masterclass participants and share some strategies from someone who has lived experience of a screen addiction.



 

Join Us

Watch on your device whenever suits you.

Join us live from 8pm (Sydney, Australia time) on Thursday, 20th July or watch the replay in your own time.

The masterclass is presented in the format of a live webinar hosted by Maggie and Brad. The session will run for approximately 1.5 hours including a live Q&A and a video recording will be available within 24 hours for anyone who cannot join us live. An audio-only version will also be available for those who prefer to listen to the content.

Once you sign up you will receive access to the participant area where you'll find the special link to join the webinar via Zoom. You'll be able to submit questions for Maggie and Brad ahead of time and will get access to watch the 1.5 hour replay whenever suits you.


Free gifts included...

Everyone who registers will receive a copy of Maggie’s eBook Chill N Skills and her Creating Success audio track.


Plus...

As a handy reference, you'll also receive a PDF handout with notes and links to further information and resources.

Register now!

Your Hosts


Maggie Dent

Maggie Dent is one of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators, with a particular interest in the early years, adolescence and resilience – as well as being an undisputed 'boy champion'. Maggie’s experience includes teaching, counselling, and working in palliative care/funeral services and suicide prevention. She is a dedicated advocate to quietly changing lives in our families and communities. She is the mother of four sons and a very grateful grandmother.

Maggie is the author of nine major books, including her 2022 book Girlhood: Raising our little girls to be healthy, happy and heard, the bestselling Mothering Our Boys and the 2020 release From Boys to Men. She hosts the ABC podcast, Parental As Anything and in July 2021 released a book of the same name.


Brad Marshall

Brad Marshall AKA The Unplugged Psychologist has spent over a decade at the cutting edge of healthy screen use. But don’t be confused by the name, Brad is NOT anti-technology. Brad is an internationally published author, researcher, clinician, and speaker. It’s Brad’s clinical experience that sets him apart from other speakers in the field of healthy tech use. While others speak about research and hypotheticals, he delivers from a place of real-world experience.

Brad is the author The Tech Diet for your Child & Teen: The 7-step plan to regain your kid’s childhood (and your Family’s Sanity), which has now been published in over a dozen countries worldwide, by HarperCollins. He is also the Director of the Screens and Gaming Disorder Clinic (Sydney) the first clinic of its kind established in the country over a decade ago. In his clinic Brad and his team help children, young people and families impacted by Internet Gaming Disorder and problematic screen use. In his spare time Brad is doing a PhD at Macquarie University where he runs clinical treatment trials for problematic screens and gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the webinar start?
Whenever you like. Maggie and Brad will be live from 8pm (Sydney, Australia time) on Thursday, 20th July or watch the replay in your own time.
How long do I have access to the webinar?
How does lifetime access sound? After signing up, you have unlimited access to the content for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own. Just come back to this website and login!
What if I am unhappy with the masterclass?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.
I already signed up but can't find the replay and resources!
If you have already signed up, login to the participant area here. You can also use the Login link in the website menu where you will find your webinar under the menu link 'My Content' - available once logged in.
Can you provide me with a certificate of completion?
Yes. You will unlock the course certificate once you have marked all lectures as complete. The certificate will appear on the screen once you have completed the final content. Click the Download button underneath the certificate to save the certificate to your device.
Can I watch this with my tween/teen?
We don't recommend it. This class is designed to give parents strategies for supporting their tweens/teens to manage their screen use, and these strategies will not be as effective if your kids are aware of them. The interview with Isaac Waddell, which we're also including, WILL be helpful to share with your tween/teens as Isaac brings some age-appropriate, lived experience so perhaps watch that together instead?
Can I ask Maggie and Brad questions?
Yes. You can submit questions ahead of time via a form in the participant area. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A at the end of the live session.

(Prices displayed in Australian Dollars)



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