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Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens

255: Can Teens Really Study While Scrolling?

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens

Dr. Lisa Damour/Reena Ninan

Mental Health, Kids & Family, Health & Fitness, Parenting

4.7824 Ratings

🗓️ 20 January 2026

⏱️ 30 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today’s teens often try to tackle their homework while fielding nonstop notifications, listening to music, and participating in group chats. Plenty of parents wonder if this is a fight worth having, or if this is just – as some teens say – “how kids study now.” In this episode of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack one of the most common (and maddening) modern parenting dilemmas: Can teens really focus while multitasking with technology? They explore why self-interruptions are just as disruptive as outside ones, when tech can actually help, and how parents can address distractions without turning homework time into a nightly power struggle. This episode helps parents balance empathy with expectations, even when their teen is already “doing well” on paper. 💡 YOU’LL LEARN: - Why multitasking slows learning, even for high-achieving teens - How study environments can impact focus - Simple, realistic tools that reduce conflict and build skills - The “Four R’s” for behavior change If you’re worried about your teen’s long-term focus and learning skills, this episode gives you a calm, respectful way forward. ________________ Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges.  Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday. teens, tweens, study habits, technology, distractions, multitasking, parenting, focus, homeworkask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, podcast, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence

Transcript

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0:00.0

Tell me a parenting issue everyone struggles with with tweens and teens, but no one talks about.

0:06.6

Rina, I think a lot of people feel like they just don't know how to connect to their kid anymore.

0:12.8

I'm Rina Nainan and welcome to Ask Lisa the psychology of raising tweens and teens.

0:17.6

And I'm Dr. Lisa DeMore.

0:19.1

We bring you science-back strategies for managing anxiety, discipline, intense emotions, and more.

0:24.6

We decode tough parenting issues with tips you can use right now.

0:28.6

So subscribe to Ask Lisa the psychology of raising tweens and teens and join our YouTube community today.

0:35.6

Just Google, Ask Lisa podcast. We're here to help you

0:39.1

untangle family life. Episode 255 contains really study while scrolling.

0:54.0

All right, the technology battle never ends. It never ends. But I also have to admit, like,

1:00.7

I think it's the time of year where it's cold and you're just like doom scrolling all the time on your phone.

1:05.7

You can be. You definitely can be. I think especially when teens are in the, I call it the armpit of the school year, January, January, February, you know, that their homework can start to feel tedious and they do not always give it its, they're totally full attention.

1:20.6

So I want to get to this about talking about studying and scrolling is a letter that a parent raised here.

1:26.1

Dear Lisa and Rina, I'm the parent of a ninth grade

1:28.5

girl who insists she studies best while multitasking, stopping to look at TikTok, listening to her

1:33.6

music, her phone buzzing with group chats. When I question what she's doing, she points out that

1:39.2

her grades are excellent, which they are, but from my perspective, it seems to make her work take longer and her focus

1:45.8

slip. I don't want a micromanager, but I'm worried that this habit is getting in the way of

1:50.8

real learning. Is this just how teen study now? Or can I push her to adapt healthier study habits

1:57.2

without turning the whole thing into a nightly battle. Thanks for your help, a concerned

2:03.3

parent. Oh my gosh. So many parents I know struggle with this because first off, there's a piece of

2:09.2

technology in the bedroom. It's the music piece that they want to have. But I'm always thinking,

...

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