Screen Time Meltdowns in ADHD Kids with Sondra Bakinde and Mariana Gordon

In this episode of the Soaring Child podcast, we dive into what’s really happening in a child’s brain and body during screen time.

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📒 Show Notes and Resources 📒

⏱️ Timecodes ⏱️
[01:21] Why parents immediately blame themselves
[02:13] Why this isn’t a discipline issue
[04:39] How screens pull energy out of the body
[06:04] The dopamine crash explained
[08:27] Fight, flight, or freeze in kids
[11:16] Why ADHD intensifies screen reactions
[14:42] Early warning signs parents often miss
[18:11] Recovery vs restriction after screens
[20:06] Bridging the dopamine gap
[29:56] The Pause & Play Method introduced
[36:53] One grounding step parents can try today

In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, Dana Kay sits down with Sondra Bakinde and Mariana Gordon, co-founders of Mindful Mantis, to unpack what’s really happening in a child’s brain and body during screen time. They explain why screens activate the sympathetic nervous system, how dopamine crashes trigger fight-flight-freeze responses, and why kids with ADHD feel these shifts even more intensely.

You’ll learn how to spot early signs of dysregulation before meltdowns erupt, why restriction alone often backfires, and how simple transitions can support a child’s nervous system instead of overwhelming it. Sondra and Mariana share practical, realistic tools — including bridging the dopamine gap, predictable transitions, connection before direction, and their Pause & Play Method — all designed for real families, not perfect ones.

🔗Link mentioned in the episode:
https://www.themindfulmantis.com
  / themindfulmantisinc  

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I am not a medical doctor and this video is based on my experience. No information in this video should be relied upon to make a medical diagnosis, treat, prevent or cure any disease or medical condition.