Doomscrolling, youth athletes, and Halloween feels 🎃

Hey friends,

A quick shout out to you. The parents making the Halloween spooky magic happen, doing last-minute costume runs, and somehow needing to replenish the candy you bought a little too early. (No judgment. We’re right there with you.) 

Weeks like this remind us how fast our kids are growing up — and how hard it is to help them slow down when life moves at full speed. Maybe that’s why we’ve been extra tuned into all the conversations about balance lately. Not just for our kids, but for us too. And with the World Series in full swing (Go Jays!), it feels like the perfect time to talk about focus, rest, and balance — especially for our kids who live and breathe sports.

Our Screen Sense Guide includes an entire section for youth athletes, with simple, practical ways to help them find that sweet spot between drive, downtime, and digital distractions. The Athlete’s Guide is included inside Screen Sense. Grab your copy here.

Now, let’s get into this week’s rundown — it’s a good one.

How Doomscrolling Rewires Their Brains

You’ve seen it before (or maybe you’ve done it yourself)… your kid, half-buried in a blanket, scrolling endlessly through TikToks and YouTube Shorts. It’s called doomscrolling, and it’s become one of Gen Z’s biggest habits. Alex Cooper broke it down on her Call Her Daddy podcast this week. It's that endless scroll that feels relaxing at first but actually leaves you restless and drained.

Here’s what’s happening: every new video or post gives their brain a quick dopamine hit (that “feel good” spark) until it starts craving more. It’s overstimulation in disguise. Before they know it, time disappears, and they’re left anxious, wired, and unsure why they feel so off. Over time, their brains start to need the noise, and silence feels uncomfortable.

Red flags to watch for:

• Losing track of time while scrolling.

• Reaching for their phone anytime things get quiet.

• Saying it helps them relax, but seeming more anxious after.

And sure, we do it too but for our teen's developing brains, it’s rewiring how they rest, think, and operate.

In her podcast, Alex shared a tip from her therapist on how to take some control back when it comes to doom scrolling: Once a week, pick something simple like folding laundry or walking the dog and do it quietly, no soundtrack, no podcast, no scrolling. It’s a small way to help them (and us) get comfortable with calm again.

Screen Time Isn’t the Only Sleep Stealer

We used to think the problem was just how much time our kids spent staring at screens. Turns out, that’s only half the story. A new study found that kids who stuck to around two hours of recreational screen time a day had lower stress and better mental health than those glued to their phones for longer. But the issue goes beyond the amount of time spent, the biggest weight is the mental load of being constantly connected.

Even when their phones are off, their brains are buzzing with notifications, friend drama, and the fear of missing something. It’s like their minds never get to fully log off.

Signs your teen might be too mentally “switched on”:

• They say they’re exhausted but still check messages “just one more time.”

• They’re extra grumpy in the morning (even for a teen).

• They can’t fall asleep because their brain is racing about what’s happening online.

• They seem wired, even when their phone’s in another room.

Try this tonight:

• Create a “brain-off” window where everyone’s phones go on the counter 30 minutes before bed (yes, even ours).

• Do a quick notification detox after dinner.

• Lead by example. Let them see you closing the laptop too.

• Talk about it. Ask what it feels like to always be “on.”

Here’s how Screen Sense can help: Not sure how to lock down your kid’s phone at night? Screen sense walks you through how to enable Downtime and set up a Screen Time schedule that works for your family. Learn more here.

This mirror finally made its way up on Cat’s wall and honestly, it changed everything. It brings all the cozy, fall vibes, and so many of you asked where it’s from, so here you go:

And since it’s Halloween week, a little reminder before the candy hangovers kick in: When that kid you think might be too old shows up with a hoodie instead of a costume, pillowcase in hand… just let them. They’re holding on to a little piece of magic that’s slipping away. Smile, compliment their “costume,” toss in an extra candy or two.

Because someday, the porch light will be on, and no one will come and you’ll miss the sound of “trick or treat.”

—Cat & Nat