Honest, down-to-earth conversations about parenting in the digital age. Hosted by bestselling author Jessica Joelle Alexander (The Danish Way of Parenting) and her husband Søren Poulsen, this series explores how families can build trust, create healthy habits, and raise kids who are prepared for life online. From screen time and social media to gaming, algorithms, and anxiety—no topic is off-limits. Real talk. Practical tips. And a shared goal: raising thoughtful, resilient digital citizens.
Should I Spy, Swap Phones, or Say Nothing?In this episode of Raising Digital Citizens: 4 out of 5, we take on four real questions from parents — all circling one big theme:How much control is too much when it comes to our kids’ digital lives?We share a slightly embarrassing moment from our own home, where we hoped our daughter hadn’t heard an unfortunate adult outburst.Not only did she hear it — she turned it into a song.(Proof that kids are always listening — even when we think they’re not.)We also answer questions about:• How to talk to kids about scary or overwhelming news• What to do if social media algorithms seem harmful or toxic• Whether it’s okay to replace a smartphone with a dumb phone• And if apps that monitor kids’ phones build safety — or break trustOur takeaways:• Fear is real — but control isn’t the same as preparation• You can monitor their screen — but trust is built in conversation• The best tool we have? Honest, age-appropriate, ongoing talksIf you liked this episode, please hit like, subscribe, and share it with another parent navigating the digital world.(We remembered to say it this time. Sort of. And we definitely remembered to start with a hint that there is a freebee at the end to all listeners. Smart if that was said up front. But it wasn't. It really is not about having all the answers but about being honest and curious!
26 Sept 2025
Episode 9
Who’s winning your child’s focus?In this episode 9 of Raising Digital Citizens: 4 out of 5, we take a closer look at the attention economy — and how it’s shaping our kids.We start with a funny “goldfish” fact about attention spans, but quickly get serious: research shows that early attention skills are one of the biggest predictors of success later in life. So what does that mean for kids growing up in a world designed to hijack their focus?We answer questions from parents about: • Why kids can focus for hours on Minecraft but struggle with homework. • Why apps like TikTok and Snapchat feel so addictive. • Whether attention spans really are shrinking — and what the long-term effects might be. • If banning devices is the right move (or if there’s a better way). • And the truth about multitasking.Our takeaways: • Attention isn’t broken, it’s interrupted. • Rules fade, but skills — and conversations — stay. • The best way to prepare kids isn’t with bans, but with honest, ongoing conversations.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and hit like so more parents can find us. Soren remembered to say this but waaaay too late in the episode.
15 Aug 2025
Episode 8
In this episode we talk about sleep — one of the most underrated but powerful parts of our children’s wellbeing. We start with a question: what if there were a pill that made you smarter, calmer, faster, healthier — and even helped you live longer? No side effects. Just something you take every night. We go through what this “pill” would do, backed by research, and reveal that it’s not a pill at all — it’s sleep. We talk about how to explain the importance of sleep to kids, how screens and phones can quietly steal it, and why so many children today are sleeping less than ever. We share practical advice and real-life strategies for making small changes that protect this superpower — without turning it into a lecture. And Jessica shows us why it’s important to turn your phone and notifications off at night (or while recording!)
10 Aug 2025
Episode 7
In this episode we take a deep dive into the importance of understanding how algorithms work and how they affect our lives and our children's lives. We discuss algorithms and negativity bias and look at how we can communicate these effects most effectively to our children. We have recommendations for how you can resist the pull and become more in control of your life online. We discuss how to normalise discomfort and using honest conversations about how own habits as a way of getting closer to our children. How our goal as parents should not be to control all aspect of their digital life but rather help them learn to understand and control it themselves.
8 Aug 2025
Episode 6
In this episode we answer interesting questions as a follow up to last episode about the Neflix series Adolescence. We explore some concrete and practical tips to make sure we do not end up in similar situations to the series's main characters. How to being and open up the important conversations with our kids about their digital life. We give advice on how you can reduce the policing of your children by preparing them. We talk about how to reduce time spend on the screen and the importance of starting conversations early and frequently checking in with our children. We talk about giving them a moral compass and a safe place to talk.
30 Jul 2025
Episode 5
In this episode of 4 out of 5 we answer questions relating to Netflix's popular series "Adolescence". Without revealing anything, we discuss some of the central themes and what we as parents can do to avoid similar situations. We discuss screen time, talk about the importance of communication and dialogue. We discuss the emergence and importance for teens and young kids of the use of emojis. We talk about why it is important for us to know the basics and be curious and interested in this emerging language. How we don't need to be experts but have a continuous and curious interest in what our children are doing online. We need to watch out for signs of isolation and be aware of and ready to deal with our children when (and not if) they see harmful content online.
30 Jul 2025
Episode 4
In this episode we pick up and deal with the issue of screen addiction. We talk about how our own son was caught in some addictive behaviour and how we dealt with that. We share an approach we have tried regarding self-regulating screen time and setting realistic targets. We answer question around the appropriate age for a child to have a phone. We answer the question about the possibility of postponing children's access to social media till the age of 16. Do we not always have the responsibility to talk and educate how children what is going on on social media - even if they are not on it themselves. We talk about how to talk to our children about dangerous and harmful content and much more.
30 Jul 2025
Episode 3
In this episode we talk about the Raising Digital Citizens kit and how and when to use the questions. We talk about screens and whether screens and screen time is the right way to talk. How the quality of what you see is more important than the quantity. We talk about how we can get more screen time balance at home. How we can make our children realise the importance of balance. How much is too much? We talk about the worrying statistics and the dramatic increase of screen use per day among tweens and teens. We underline that not all children are the same and not all parents are the same so we have to consider this in our approach. The importance of not rewarding with screen time and not punishing with taking screentime away. How to use tech to connect and not to disconnect. How to encourage children with off-line activities. Adding positive and healthy activities before subtracting addictive or unhealthy online activities. We raise the topic of building trust with your child and how we can best do this. About not being hypocritical and leading by example. About teaching and educating rather than imposing impossible unrealistic rules. That it takes many actions to build trust and few too undermine the trust again. About being vulnerable and honest is a key insight to building trust.
30 Jul 2025
Episode 2
In this episode we talk about what to do when you feel that you are not a tech expert. How to relate to your children when talking about apps. We discuss the fallacy of using the term screen when considering quality screen time. What good vs bad screen time is. talk about bans on certain apps and age appropriate apps. How we need to know our children. We talk about not labelling children as this or that. We talk about some of our own digital habits and how good digital habits include what you do when you are not on the screen.
30 Jul 2025
Episode 1
In this first episode of “4 out of 5,” we talk about how Raising Digital Citizens started, what surprised us most in the research phase, and why real conversations — not rules — are the key to helping kids feel safe and confident online. We talk about why it should not be left to schools to educate our children about digital behaviour. We have som cool parenting tips about how to connect more with your children. How children actually enjoy when we approach their world with interest and real curiosity and without being the know-it-all and lecturing parent. And much more. And there is a surprise visit from our cat, Tolstoy.
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