There are moments in parenting when something small nudges at your attention—and then, without warning, that “small” thing becomes a defining shift. That’s what happened to Gretchen Shanahan in 2018.
She remembers it clearly—the way the questions started stacking up in her mind. Why are my kindergartners using iPads during indoor recess? How much screen time are they actually getting during the school day? Who’s counting?
At the time, she didn’t label herself a digital wellness advocate or a trailblazer.
She was simply a mom asking questions.
But questions can be catalytic. And Gretchen’s curiosity eventually led her to become one of the leading voices on parental digital wellness—founding Digitally Wise Consulting, speaking on stages, and currently standing in the midst of one of the most significant lawsuits calling for greater protections around student data privacy.
I sat down with Gretchen for a powerful conversation that moved between her personal choices, classroom culture, and the very real risks families face when children are immersed in technologies we don’t fully understand or regulate.
https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/student-data-privacy-screens-in-schools/
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