About this episode

Dr. John La Puma discusses the impact of modern indoor lifestyles on children's mental health and offers solutions for reconnecting with the outdoors.

Why Anxiety, Meltdowns, Sleep Problems, and Emotional Dysregulation May Have More to Do With Modern Childhood Than We Think Children today are more anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, and emotionally exhausted than ever before. But what if one of the biggest threats to their mental health isn’t something happening online… It’s what’s missing offline? In this incredibly powerful and emotional episode of the Child Psych Podcast, Dr. John La Puma joins us to unpack what he calls The Indoor Epidemic — the silent shift away from sunlight, outdoor play, movement, nature, boredom, independence, and real-world connection that is fundamentally changing childhood. This conversation will likely make you see parenting — and modern life — differently. We explore why children’s nervous systems are struggling, why so many kids seem emotionally dysregulated and chronically stressed, and how today’s indoor, screen-filled lifestyle may be contributing to rising rates of anxiety, attention difficulties, sleep problems, sensory overwhelm, and disconnection. But this episode is not about guilt. It’s about hope. Dr. La Puma shares practical, science-backed ways families can reconnect with the…

People in this episode

Host: Institute of Child Psychology

Guest: Dr. John La Puma

Topics covered

• anxiety
• emotional dysregulation
• outdoor play
• mental health
• screen time
• parenting

Keywords

• indoor epidemic
• children's mental health
• anxiety
• emotional regulation
• outdoor activities
• screen-filled lifestyle
• parenting strategies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Institute of Child Psychology

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