Screens, Service & Raising Kids Well with Jesse Florea
Podcasts > The Common Good
Thursday, June 18, 2026
"I'm bored" — two words every parent hears within days of summer break starting. Jesse Florea, editor-in-chief of Focus on the Family's magazines, joins Brian From to talk about why kids today struggle with boredom more than previous generations (hint: it's largely about how screens train the brain to crave constant stimulation), and what parents can actually do about it. Jesse shares Focus on the Family's summer challenge encouraging kids to serve others — five acts of service, memorizing scripture, donating outgrown clothes and toys, writing encouragement cards — and makes the case that some boredom is healthy, even necessary, for kids to develop problem-solving skills. He and Brian also dig into why neighborhood free play has all but disappeared, the role of technology in isolating families even when they're together, and why VBS, sports camps, and structured social time matter more now that "go outside and play" doesn't really work the way it used to. Jesse closes with a simple, practical tip: be like Jesus, and ask your bored kid good questions instead of just handing them a screen. Learn more about Clubhouse, Clubhouse Junior, Brio, and Focus on the Family magazine at focusonthefamily.com.
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