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I Didn’t Miss Out (Part 1): What I Gained Growing Up Without Screens with Andrew Hempe (#267)
Description
What if growing up without a smartphone or video games didn’t mean missing out—but actually meant gaining more?
In this episode of the ScreenStrong Families Podcast, 22-year-old Andrew Hempe shares what it was really like to grow up without the addictive screens that are now considered a normal part of childhood. After seeing his older brother struggle with severe gaming addiction, Andrew’s parents made the difficult decision to raise their younger children without smartphones or video games.
Andrew explains why he believes he didn’t miss out at all. Instead, he gained four things that have shaped who he is today: strong family relationships, the ability to be comfortable with boredom and discomfort, real-world skills, and deep friendships.
He shares personal stories about family dinners, sports, music, school, and friendships—and explains how having more time away from screens gave him the opportunity to develop communication skills, creativity, confidence, perseverance, and meaningful relationships.
Andrew also addresses one of parents’ biggest fears: What if my child is the only one without a smartphone or video games? Will they be left out? Will they have friends?
His experience offers a powerful perspective for parents who wonder whether protecting childhood from addictive technology means their kids will miss out. Andrew's answer is clear: there is so much more to gain when screens aren't taking up the space meant for childhood.
This is Part 1 of a two-part series. In Part 2, Andrew answers the questions he hears most often about growing up this way—including what he actually missed out on, what happened when he eventually got a smartphone, and why some things are worth missing.
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Production Team:
- Host: Melanie Hempe
- Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin