Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Parents have been fighting the wrong battle in the screen time wars—and the most effective solution isn't about apps, contracts, or consequences at all. In this episode, Dr. Brad Marshall shares the surprisingly simple hardware-level intervention that reduced gaming disorder by 60% in just six weeks. Key Points: Managing home WiFi with set limits proved most effective in reducing screen addiction. Phone-level controls are second most effective but can be circumvented. Bedtime WiFi boundaries show significant impact. Traditional methods like contracts and consequences showed less effectiveness. Hardware-level solutions outperform software controls. Quote of the Episode: "What fuels all of these devices and their persuasive design and their addictive nature and their dopamine is the WiFi. We know that for a fact." Key Insights: Start with the strictest parameters when first giving devices. Focus on infrastructure control rather than behaviour management. Device-specific controls allow age-appropriate f