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"I sent 36,000 texts the first month I had a “REAL” phone"

It was the summer of 2009, I had mowed many lawns and had done odd jobs to pay for two specific things I had worked towards all summer. At the age of 14, I wanted nothing more than an excellent music collection and a cell phone with which to text and call friends.

Curious about the apps found on a Pinwheel phone? Take a look at some fun features found within Pinwheel apps below!

Starting Saturday, July 11 the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) is hosting a four day event, filled with informative sessions, inspirational speeches, and current topics in school counseling. 

While most pop-ups are selling artisan tacos or showcasing local artists, a small company headquartered in Austin, Texas is setting up shop for one day so the Lakeway and Austin-area community can learn firsthand how the Pinwheel device helps kids. 

Dr. Mike Brooks from our therapist council shared this journal article with us recently: “The impact of digital technology use on adolescent well-being.” It’s a 2020 “study of studies” on adolescents, technology, and well-being. We read it so you don't have to and pulled out what we felt were the key points!

As your child steps out of their elementary school building for the last time in their lives, they officially become a rising middle school student. The transition to middle school might seem daunting to some children: they need to find their classes in a new building, meet all new teachers, and in some schools, walk the halls with peers the size of adults.  

In our first post about Managing Screen Time, we dove into managing our children’s screen time, and the difference between using technology as a tool versus a passive source of entertainment. If you missed our first post, take a moment to read about current screen time challenges, like how social media and smartphones make parenting harder. You can also find suggestions on how to embrace the new kids tech era in the healthiest possible way. 

Does the phrase “summer break” give you memories of catching fireflies at dusk and splashing in sprinklers with friends? Did you read for hours under the sun, sleep in a tent or take beach trips with your family? Or how about "winter break"? Hot chocolate and hours of family time spent reading and playing games? 

For most of us, our fond holiday break memories don’t involve much screen time, and it can be difficult to accept that tech is a larger part of kids' lives today than it was in our childhood. In this two-part series, we’ll dive into when screen time is ok, and ideas on incorporating technology into your routine in a healthy way.

Parents face monumental challenges in raising children today. The world of technology and social media were not designed with the safety of children in mind. Many social media platforms make children vulnerable in ways that could be easily prevented.

I co-founded Pinwheel because I’m personally driven to give kids access to technology in the healthiest possible way. But today, I’m writing as a dad. I feel compelled to share this petition to#LetParentsProtect, which urges every social media platform to let parental monitoring tools have a voice in helping to protect kids.