In an era where digital footprints begin before a child can walk and every parenting decision is dissected online, raising children has become a complex act of balance, boundaries, and emotional intelligence. From managing screen time and redefining gender roles to addressing environmental concerns and nurturing mental wellbeing, modern parenting calls for unprecedented levels of awareness, vulnerability, and adaptability. Episode 5 of The Healing Circle, hosted by Janice Sequeira and powered by coto, brings together a dynamic set of guests, each at a different stage of parenting, for a raw and powerful conversation on raising children in the digital age.
The episode featured a deeply introspective dialogue with actress and climate warrior Dia Mirza, entrepreneur and creator Varun Duggirala, fashion and lifestyle influencer Juhi Godambe Jain, and Dr. Mona Gujral, chief psychologist at coto and a leading parenting coach. In a heartfelt and nuanced exchange, the guests reflected on the quiet complexities of raising children in a digitally dominated world. The comforts of technology often blur the lines between connection and distraction, and the need for emotional presence has never been greater.
One of the most striking moments in the conversation was when Dia Mirza opened up about the emotional fallout of too much screen time. Drawing a powerful parallel, Dia Mirza linked screen addiction to substance dependency. She stated, “Screen content, especially that created for children, is like a dopamine addiction. It’s like giving a child cocaine,”. Reflecting on her daughter’s early exposure to social media, which led to excessive screen time, she adds, “She was spending eight hours a day on her phone. We’re now trying to reverse that, but it’s been an incredibly difficult journey,”.
Dia shared how the experience made her deeply cautious about screen exposure and voiced her strong resistance to commodifying children for social media. “It is terrifying to see children being made up or put in provocative situations for the sake of views or content. The rise in child exploitation and abuse, including child pornography, is deeply concerning, which is why some countries have banned children under 16 from using social media platforms.
Speaking candidly about the emotional side of parenting, he added, “There’s something called ‘dad guilt’, we want to be involved, but we’re constantly questioning if we’re doing enough. Balancing work and fatherhood isn’t easy, and sometimes there’s a real sense of inadequacy.”
Varun Duggirala, a hands-on father, stressed that modern parenting should be a shared responsibility,“ Parenting is no longer just the mom’s job, both parents should be equally involved,’’ he said, Varun takes an active approach, curating his kids’ screen time weekly, ensuring they are only exposed to appropriate content. “As a parent, it’s my responsibility to monitor what they consume. It’s also important to teach them the difference between privilege and entitlement. That means being disciplined and sometimes being strict”.
He also highlighted the importance of teaching children the difference between privilege and entitlement, emphasizing the need for discipline and being strict with kids when necessary. Candidly speaking about ‘dad guilt’, he acknowledges that fathers often feel unsure about their role in balancing work and parenting, adding that modern dads experience a sense of responsibility to be involved but sometimes struggle with feelings of inadequacy.
Juhi Godambe Jain shares a lighter take on parenting, revealing her child is too young to understand, but he is very fascinated by the voice assistant Alexa. “He is fascinated by Alexa, and it doesn’t matter where we are; whenever he hears the name, he starts looking for the voice,” she laughs. But beneath the surface, Juhi opened up about facing mom guilt and societal judgment for breastfeeding her child for only nine months. “There’s so much pressure on moms to do things a certain way. I had to learn to shut out the noise.” She also reflected on maintaining her own identity through motherhood, choosing not to become a ‘mommy blogger’ and instead staying true to her voice as a content creator.
Adding a deeper psychological perspective to the emotionally charged conversation, Dr. Mona Gujral, chief psychologist at coto and renowned parenting coach, shed light on the hidden impact of screen time on children’s developing brains. “When a child is repeatedly exposed to certain content, the neural pathways in their brain get strengthened. This can shape their identity in later years. This is why we’re seeing an increase in learning disabilities and children struggling to cope with real-life pressures,” she explains.
She also stresses that mindful parenting begins with self-awareness, “children don’t always know what’s happening to them, it’s parents who are pushing them. We must first heal our own emotional patterns before trying to fix our kids.”
As she reflects on the evolving role of parents, Dr. Mona notes, “Parenting is evolving on the go. You don’t always have all the answers, but you learn as things unfold.”
The Healing Circle, powered by coto, offers expert insights on emotional wellness, relationships, parenting, and digital wellbeing. The show is exclusively available on Janice Sequeira’s YouTube channel, with new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
