The Switched On Parent
The Switched On Parent is a podcast for parents navigating a digital world their children are growing up in. Host Laura Knight draws on two decades as a teacher and digital leader in schools, as well as her own experience as a parent. The show explores what shapes children online, what deserves attention, and how to respond when things go wrong. It offers thoughtful conversations, reliable information, and practical support without lectures or jargon, helping families make confident choices with more wisdom and less panic.
Episodes
The Digital Babysitter: When Screens Help and When Habits Creep In
In this episode, I’m talking about the digital babysitter, that moment when handing over a screen feels less like a parenting choice and more like an emergency service.Screens can genuinely help us through busy, exhausting or downright chaotic moments, and I want to take some of the shame out of that.But I’m also looking at what happens when helpful screen use quietly becomes the automatic answer.
Rules and Routines that Really Work
In this episode, I’m getting practical about digital routines, boundaries and what it really takes to make the rules in your home stick. We’ll talk about why parenting is not the same as negotiating with a friend, why consistency matters, and how giving children clear, age-appropriate reasons can reduce some of the conflict around devices, apps and screen time.I’ll also explore why fairness does n
Connection, Courage and Choosing Integrity Online
In this episode, I’m exploring what connection really means for children growing up online. We’ll look at why having hundreds of contacts, streaks, likes and messages does not necessarily mean feeling seen or supported, and why online friendships deserve to be taken just as seriously as the relationships happening face to face.I’ll also talk about helping children manage boundaries, disagreement a
Privacy, Secrecy and Trust Online
In this episode, I’m looking at the difference between privacy and secrecy online, and why I believe younger children need much more visibility and supervision than we sometimes realise. We’ll explore passwords, hidden accounts, boundaries and how digital independence should grow gradually as a child’s judgement develops.I’ll also talk about what secrecy might be telling us, why a hidden account i
Real, Fake and Everything In Between Raising Critical Thinkers Online
In this episode, I’m looking behind the curtain at the design choices that make apps, games and online platforms so difficult to put down. From infinite scroll and autoplay to streaks, notifications and social rewards, we’ll explore how children’s attention is deliberately captured and why so many supposedly free digital experiences come with another kind of cost.I’ll also explain surveillance cap
Nothing Online Is Really Free - Understanding the Digital World
In this episode, I’m looking at what really happens behind the screen when an app, game or platform appears to be free. We’ll explore the attention economy, persuasive design and the ways digital spaces are deliberately built to keep us clicking, scrolling and coming back for more.I’ll also explain why children’s attention and data have real commercial value, what surveillance capitalism actually
It’s Not Just About Screen Time
Screen time is one of those topics that can turn an ordinary family evening into a full-blown negotiation.In this first episode, I’m looking beyond the number of minutes children spend on devices and asking a more useful question: what are they actually doing with that time?We’ll explore the idea of a digital media diet, the risks parents really need to understand, and how online experiences can a
TRAILER
None of us grew up in the digital world our children are navigating today. I’m Laura Knight, and after two decades working as a teacher and digital leader in schools, I’m now asking many of the same questions as a parent around my own kitchen table.The Switched On Parent is here to help you understand what is shaping children online, decide what genuinely deserves your attention and respond when t
