In this episode of the Curious About Nature podcast, host Rachel Mills and guest Gill Erskine, co-founder of Wild Strong, discuss the challenges of smartphone usage in families. They also share personal experiences of reducing screen time and its positive effects on their children's well-being. Gill recounts going smartphone-free during Christmas, and the benefits of outdoor activities and real-world interactions. Both express concerns over the impact of smartphones on children's mental health and social skills, and the pressures of parenting in a digital age. Gill shares her business - Wild Strong, which runs family movement clubs that focus on multigenerational movement and teaching physical literacy through outdoor play.Gill Erskine:Website: https://wildstrong.co/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearewildstrongFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildStrongCommunityCurious About Nature is hosted by Buttercup Learning Founder, Rachel Mills. Website: https://buttercuplearning.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buttercup_hello/ Email: [email protected] Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you're listening to this. Curious About Nature is a nature show for families, home educators and teachers from the team behind Buttercup Learning and UK nature activity boxes that get digital kids outdoors. There's a new episode every month where guests discuss nature and ways we can connect our families and communities to nature.What we discussed in the episodeSmartphone Free Christmas (00:00:44)Gill's decision to go smartphone-free over Christmas and her reasons for doing so.Engaging Without Smartphones (00:02:30)The challenges and benefits of navigating without GPS and engaging with people for directions.Dependency on Smartphones (00:03:25)The increasing reliance on smartphones and the impact on daily life.Children and Smartphone Exposure (00:06:54)Concerns about children's exposure to smartphones, including access to inappropriate content and the influence of peer pressure.Reducing Smartphone Dependency (00:11:11)Strategies to reduce dependency on smartphones, including leaving work phones in the office and minimising screen time in the evenings.Delaying Children's Access to Social Media (00:12:12)The desire to delay children's access to social media and concerns about the impact of gaming culture on young boys.Protecting Childhood and Children (00:18:04)The need for collective action to pressure tech companies and governments to protect childhood and children from the negative impacts of technology.Positive Outcomes of Smartphone-Free Time (00:21:43)Reflecting on positive experiences and learnings from the smartphone-free Christmas.After School Clubs (00:21:50)Discussion about managing work and after school care, exploring the idea of a nature-based after school club for children.Outdoor Movement and Yoga (00:24:47)Challenges of finding movement classes for parents and children, the benefits of outdoor activities and community bonding.Risk and Children's Play (00:27:02)The importance of allowing children to take risks and play freely in nature, and the impact of overprotectiveness on children's mental health.Inclusive Fitness and Movement (00:28:28)The concept of inclusive fitness and movement, the need for diverse options beyond traditional gyms and boot camps.Family Movement Clubs (00:30:18)The development of family movement clubs, the use of play and coaching to build movement skills and foster community bonding.Future Plans for Wild Strong (00:34:09)Plans for Wild Strong, collaboration with local authorities, and the development of movement programmes for schools.