1 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: On the Happy Families podcasts, I spend a lot of 2 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: time railing against the tech giants and their impure motives, 3 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: their duplicitous, mendacious motives when it comes to our children 4 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: and addiction. So today's podcast may come as a surprise 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: because I'm not always against tech. In fact, there are 6 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: some times in some places where I think tech serves 7 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: wonderful purposes and can really enhance and improve our lives, 8 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: and I'm pro tech in those situations. Today a conversation 9 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: about how tech can change our lives for the better. 10 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Happy Families Podcast, Real Parenting Solutions every Day. 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: This is Australia's most downloaded parenting podcast. My name is 12 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,480 Speaker 1: doctor Justin Coulson, and today I'm joined by a couple 13 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 1: of teachers from Sydney, Matt and Brianna Donaldson. I'm chatting 14 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: with them because I saw them on Telly recently and 15 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: was surprised by what they were saying. I was also 16 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: intrigued by it, and shortly thereafter I was asked to 17 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:00,959 Speaker 1: have a chat on the Today Show about the very 18 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: thing they were discussing. I was so captivated I thought 19 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,119 Speaker 1: I've got to know more about this, so I've reached 20 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 1: out and I've managed to get hold of the Donsons 21 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: to talk with them about some recent stats and what 22 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:16,040 Speaker 1: they're doing in their homes. So first the stats about 23 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: eighty percent, let me say that again, eighty percent of 24 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: millennial and gen Z parents are using smart devices in 25 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: their homes to make life easier. So we're talking about 26 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: smart devices for monitoring what's happening in the home and 27 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: even for controlling the way the home works. And Matt 28 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: and Brianna, you guys are the poster child of this 29 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: gen Z millennial cohort doing this stuff. I'm amazed at 30 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: what you're doing and how you're doing it. I don't 31 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: mind where you start here. Matt, Let's start with you. 32 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: What are you doing in your home? From a tech 33 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: point of view? That has obviously got me so captured 34 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: and so one amid and wondering how much money I 35 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: have to spend to do this in my life house? 36 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 2: Well, what are the. 37 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 3: Big things that we do is the routines and the 38 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 3: smart lights in our house. It just allows us to 39 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 3: have more time together as a family when you're not 40 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 3: worried about having to turn lights on an off or 41 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 3: going manually dim them or tell Google to do it automatically. 42 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 3: So like we use the Samsung Smart Things app, which 43 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 3: is fantastic. Like I've used other apps before, but this 44 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 3: one's so much better in the sense it feels more 45 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 3: like coding that you can say to it, Hey, when 46 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 3: the time gets to this and if the TV is 47 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,239 Speaker 3: on and starts to dimmer lights to this percentage, or 48 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 3: you know, if the if it gets to this time, 49 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 3: turn the electric blanket on so that's ready and toast 50 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 3: you when we get into bed. So I think I 51 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 3: think just having those sorts of things, they seem really small, 52 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 3: but it really does add up eventually when you start 53 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 3: to not having to think about it, it just sort of happens. 54 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 4: We use it a lot for our son in preparing 55 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 4: him for bed, and particularly with those routines. We've got 56 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 4: a lot of research into obviously melotonin and screen time 57 00:02:58,320 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 4: and the impact that that has before beds. 58 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 2: We have very strict rules around dinner time. 59 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 4: Phones go away once it hit six pm, our lights 60 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 4: automatically start to dim and they change that more ambient light, 61 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 4: and then we sometimes have coming music that automatically comes 62 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 4: on and that's when we start our bedtime routine. With 63 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 4: our son, we've seen a massive impact that that's had 64 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 4: in preparing him for sleep, and we are very lucky 65 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 4: that when it comes to that six thirty six forty five, 66 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 4: he's ready to transition and we've seen that change in 67 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 4: his body language to then tradition transition. 68 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 2: Into his bedtime sleep stories, et cetera. And it's really 69 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 2: helped with that wind down. 70 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 4: So using technology to benefit us to then help our 71 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 4: son get a good nuts sleep. 72 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: So, like most parents, my brain is exploding right now. 73 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: I'm just a switch light on our off kind of 74 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: guy and hearing you talk about technology where you can 75 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: literally tell an app, Sorry, which one did you say 76 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: you use? You said that you several in your film on. 77 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 3: That you really want smart things app. This is the 78 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 3: Samsung smart Things app. It's their like poster app that 79 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 3: does all of the all the Samsung smart text and 80 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 3: even other things that aren't Samsung based can ad them 81 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 3: into the device. 82 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: Right, So, yeah, I was going to ask that. So 83 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: if I've got like a Sinos music system, it'll still 84 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: talk to that. Yeah, as long as it's got like 85 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: it can talk to Google or other amazing smart home beaches, 86 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: you can connect to the same sung it's incredible. So, 87 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: like I said, my brain is exploding. I've heard you 88 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:18,359 Speaker 1: talk about this before, and I've been on TV talking 89 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 1: about how people like you were doing this, but I 90 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: still don't have a clue how it actually works. I'm 91 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: not a boomer, I promise I'm not a boomer, but 92 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: I am very much gen X and and I kind 93 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: of I'm struggling to understand how you can say to 94 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: an app, if the TV's on and it's this time 95 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 1: of night, I want you to do this. But if 96 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: the TV's not on and it's this time and I 97 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: want you to do that. Like, the complexity around that 98 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,280 Speaker 1: and the thinking through it is it'sooing my head in. 99 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,919 Speaker 1: But also the fact that an app can turn on 100 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 1: an electric blanket so that the bed is warm. I mean, 101 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 1: it's freezing at the moment, and we all need that. 102 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 1: But what's the tech setup? What do I need to 103 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 1: do in my house? If I'm just running the stand 104 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: electrical setup that most houses have had for decades, how 105 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: do I get my electric blanket to turn on through 106 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: an app? 107 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 3: Well, the smart electric blanket we have is not actually smart, 108 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 3: it's actually we've got a smart switch, so it interfaces 109 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 3: between the electric blanket and your power socket. That switch 110 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 3: connects to the Wi Fi which then you then connect 111 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 3: to the smart things app and then you say you 112 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 3: give it a label and say this is my electric blanket, 113 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 3: so the app knows this electric blanket, and so then 114 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 3: you tell it, hey, turn this switch on, which then 115 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 3: turns it on and powers on the electric blanket and 116 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 3: the electric blanket. Thankfully, R one just sort of turns 117 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 3: on for an hour, so we can do it an 118 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 3: hour before we go to bed. 119 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 5: It just sort of turns on and starts warming the bed. 120 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: Or you're driving home, you've had a night out and 121 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: you know that it's late and everyone wants to get 122 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: to bed, So before you even drive home, you jump 123 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: onto the what is it smart things app and say, 124 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: turn on that smart switch because I want a warm 125 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: bed when I get home, and it does it for you. 126 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 3: And if you've got a Samsung phone, you can actually 127 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 3: talk to it and tell you your phone, hey, turn 128 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 3: on my electric blanket, and it will do that, so 129 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 3: that way hands free while driving. 130 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: I mean, it just keeps on getting better and better, 131 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: and I'm blown away by it, Like I said, even 132 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: though I've talked about it before. If I don't know 133 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 1: what a smart switch is, I'm putting up my hand 134 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: right now. What is a smart switch? And how do 135 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: I get those installed? Like what's the money involved in that? 136 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 4: Smart switches aren't very expensive and you can just go 137 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,119 Speaker 4: to Cama Jbhi Fi just say you need a smart 138 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 4: switch and it's literally just plugging your normal power socket 139 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 4: into that and then that goes into the wall. So 140 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 4: it's not a very complicated device and they're not expensive 141 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 4: at all. But they are compatible with the app, which 142 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 4: is why it works so well, in the fact that 143 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 4: Samsung's allowed you to use a whole range of different devices. 144 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:42,280 Speaker 2: Through their one app. 145 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 4: And like the o awesome thing is is we have 146 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 4: the Samsung Smart TV and as we know, Todlins can 147 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 4: get very addicted to television and we have very very 148 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,479 Speaker 4: very strict boundaries within our house and thirty minutes while 149 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 4: we're prepping dinner, he can watch his favorite episode of 150 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 4: Bluey or he's very interested in the shakt documentaries as 151 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 4: we have in our Samsung feature. He loves watching them 152 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 4: with our cat, Truffle. But if he decides, he's very 153 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 4: used to the routine and he will often allow us 154 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 4: to turn it off or we're trying to give him 155 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 4: that autonomy to get him to turn the TV off, 156 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 4: so he's part of that process. But if he doesn't, 157 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 4: we can use that Samsung smart things actually control the 158 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 4: TV to turn it off ourselves, and so then we 159 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 4: can have that. Now, yes, that sometimes comes with a tantrum, 160 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 4: but obviously we're supporting him through that and developing that 161 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 4: understanding with there's now no more TV time. We're transitioning 162 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 4: to dinner and then family time and bed and so 163 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 4: it just gives us more of that control over our house. 164 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: After the break, I want to talk to you about 165 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: where somebody who's never done any of this before and 166 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: whose mind is just exploding right now where they're supposed 167 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: to start. I've also got a hypothesis that I want 168 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: to run by you and see if your experience is 169 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: consistent with what my hypothesis is. And we'll wrap it 170 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: up by just talking about some healthy tech habits at home, 171 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: especially since you guys are so ingrained with tech and 172 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: yet you're using it in a way to decrease the 173 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: negative impact of tech in your life. This thing is 174 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: just so fascinating to me that's coming up after the 175 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: break on The Happy Family's podcast, Matt and Brianna Donaldson, 176 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: I don't know what to call you. I feel like 177 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 1: you're these tech aficionados who are expanding our minds in 178 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: terms of what you can do with a home. You 179 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: were talking before about smart lights. The lights can dim 180 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: as well. Initially, when I saw what you were doing, 181 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:32,439 Speaker 1: I was thinking, Oh, my goodness, to do this, I'm 182 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 1: going to have to spend thousands and thousands and thousands 183 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: of dollars and completely rewire my house so that I 184 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: can plug it all into an app and do this 185 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: cool stuff. Because I actually really like the idea of 186 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: doing it, and I'll explain why I'm sold on it shortly. 187 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: You've talked about the smart switches. What do I do 188 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:48,839 Speaker 1: about lights? How do I get my lights to dim 189 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:49,959 Speaker 1: based on what the app says? 190 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 3: So what we did we started small, so it's not 191 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 3: something you have to jump straight in and go right. 192 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 5: I've got to replace every single light globe in. 193 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 3: My house, and as you said, if you did that, 194 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,199 Speaker 3: it would cost thousands of dollars. So maybe you get 195 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 3: start with just your bedside lamps and then maybe you 196 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 3: move on to doing the down lights in your bedroom. 197 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,840 Speaker 3: Just start small, and that way it gives you some 198 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 3: time to acclimatize to how you actually get them to 199 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 3: communicate with your with your phone. So let's say you 200 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 3: did your bedside lights to start with. Maybe you've already 201 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 3: got some bedside laps you love. You just get a 202 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,199 Speaker 3: smart globe that it fixes appropriately, so whether to screw 203 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 3: or obey in it pop that in. 204 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 5: You then go to the. 205 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 3: Website for the particular light that you've got and tell 206 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 3: it to connect up to the Wi Fi so you 207 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 3: give it permission to connect to your WiFi router and 208 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 3: then that means it's discoverable on your network. So then 209 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,960 Speaker 3: when you go to the Samsung Smart Things app, you 210 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,439 Speaker 3: can then go look for all the device I'm looking for. 211 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 3: It will appear because you've set it up, and then 212 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 3: it will appear in your smart Things up. 213 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 2: The priorite is what you want as a family. 214 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 4: So our big priority was that transitioning to bedtime for 215 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 4: a toddler and providing that space for him and helping 216 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 4: him transition from his busy day into a calming environment. 217 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:05,439 Speaker 4: So we really focus on the bedroom spaces as the priority, 218 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 4: and then we're slowly expanded into our living spaces and 219 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 4: other areas of the house. 220 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: I really like the way that you said that as well, 221 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: because if you're trying to learn how to use all 222 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 1: of this new technology with a house full of change, 223 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: it's too much. But just connecting one device learning how 224 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: to connect that, they're moving on to the next one 225 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: bit by bit, month by month, nice and slow. It's 226 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:26,679 Speaker 1: really a really good way to get into it. Here's 227 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: my hypothesis. My hypothesis follows even though Brownie, you mentioned 228 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: that every now and again your child will have a 229 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: tantrum when the TV turns off automatically, my sense is 230 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: that when the house tells you that it's bedtime because 231 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 1: the lights are dimming and soft music is playing, and 232 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: the TV has switched off automatically, like you've got no 233 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 1: control over it. It's switched off because you've set it 234 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,959 Speaker 1: up ahead of time, there will actually be fewer fights 235 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: than when the parents are saying it's time to turn 236 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: off the TV, switch off the light. We're done. You 237 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: guys are still fairly early in your parents journey, but 238 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: you clearly are doing this. Does that hypothesis resonate for 239 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: you or am I missing the mark somewhere? What's your reaction. 240 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: I think that's one hundred percent correct. 241 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 4: Like as I said, we see the change in our 242 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:13,679 Speaker 4: son's body language. 243 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 2: If we've been out, we've had a busy day, and we're. 244 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:19,719 Speaker 4: Coming home and we're rushing that bedroom routine, tore pare 245 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 4: him for sleep because we've been out for dinner or 246 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 4: whatever it is. There's definitely a lot more of those 247 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:27,079 Speaker 4: bedtime battles. But when we've taken the time, we are 248 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 4: already home and he's soho ViOS that routine. We've been 249 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 4: doing it since he. 250 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:30,839 Speaker 2: Was a baby. 251 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:33,680 Speaker 4: We originally had white Noise integrated as well. Now he 252 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 4: has a Tony Box and he does stories on that 253 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 4: so that he can if he wants to listen to 254 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 4: audiobooks and stories, he can do that through his Tony Box, 255 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 4: which has been a wonderful edition because it's tech without 256 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 4: a screen, and so he can lie in bed and 257 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 4: listen to that, which was his choice to transition to that. 258 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 4: But we don't have those bedroom battles, and you can 259 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 4: see that change in his body language when he gets 260 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 4: out of the bath. 261 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 2: It's a calming atmosphere that he's entering into. 262 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 4: And then he's transitioning into bed, and we obviously still 263 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 4: support him with that. We do his prayers and we 264 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 4: read him stories and we help with that, but within 265 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 4: tens of fifteen minutes most nights, he's in bed, asleep 266 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 4: or transitioning through that on his own. 267 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 3: I'll find it funny how as you're saying, like when 268 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,319 Speaker 3: the house sort of turns everything off, it takes the 269 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 3: ownership off of the parents, so it's like, oh my gosh, 270 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,439 Speaker 3: you turned off the TV and you turning down the lights, like, well, no, 271 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 3: the house knows it's bad time, And for a three 272 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 3: four year old he doesn't understand the concept of time, 273 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 3: it's a good cue for him as opposed to just 274 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 3: having the lights outside when maybe it's daylight savings and 275 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 3: it's still right outside, so he doesn't know, oh, it's 276 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 3: getting close to bed time. The house is telling him, look, 277 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 3: you don't know the time, but I know the time, 278 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 3: and now it's time to get ready for bed. 279 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: It's so smart. I mean, technically it is so smart 280 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:49,679 Speaker 1: because that's the idea of it, But I just love 281 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 1: the way that it can smooth transitions and make family 282 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: life feel better, which is what enhabbed me with it, 283 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:57,680 Speaker 1: and with what you guys have done in the first place, 284 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: What do you reckon of the most important things. You 285 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: guys have got so much tech involvement in the home. 286 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:06,839 Speaker 1: I'm a little bit the opposite. I'm trying to eliminate 287 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,199 Speaker 1: tech in my home, or at least reduce it and 288 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: minimize it as much as I can. If you're going 289 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: to have this level of tech in the home, what 290 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: do you do as parents to create healthy tech habits. 291 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 2: The thing that depends obviously on the tech. 292 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,439 Speaker 4: We've talked obviously a lot about the TV, the Samsung 293 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 4: Smart TV in the lights. We also have a vacuum, 294 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 4: the Samsung Respoke Jet dot Combo vacuum, which we named 295 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 4: nom knov. 296 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: And you sound like your I've heard of Apple fanboys. 297 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:39,319 Speaker 1: It sounds like you guys are just the Samsung, like 298 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,440 Speaker 1: like reps or something. I know your teachers, but this 299 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: is anyway. Sorry, So you've got this Samsung What is 300 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: that a robot vac Yeah. 301 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 4: So that bespoke Jet dot Combo. It's named nom nov 302 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 4: because he is everything before. But the part is he's 303 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 4: on automated routines as well. So he's also the Samsung 304 00:13:58,160 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 4: Smart Things app. 305 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 2: And that's text. 306 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 4: That's actually allowed us to have more family time because 307 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 4: what happens is he cleans and mocks our house three 308 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 4: times a week. So on the weekends we're not stop 309 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 4: doing those mundane cleaning things that no one likes to 310 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 4: do anyway, And so what it means is we have 311 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 4: more time with our son. And so we're using tech 312 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 4: to really try and gain back that family time. Obviously, 313 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 4: as big, busy working parents, you're just rushing so much 314 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 4: during the week and so it's like, well, how can 315 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 4: we gain that time back on the weekends as a family, 316 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 4: And so we've tried to find technology that's allowed us 317 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 4: to do that. And then within obviously other technology like 318 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 4: our smart TV. It's just about having those boundaries, which 319 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 4: I know you've talked a lot about having those boundaries. 320 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 4: So our son it's like thirty minutes only watching TV. 321 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 4: We're very strict around what he can watch, so like 322 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 4: he loves his Blue episodes and he learns a lot 323 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 4: from Bluish, which is great. But I think having those 324 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 4: boundaries in place is such an important thing because as 325 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 4: soon as you let the they know, oh, I can 326 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 4: push the boundaries. Like I know they're only toddlers, but 327 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 4: they can turn around and. 328 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 6: Go, oh, if I either say one more episode or 329 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 6: just don't listen when the TV gets turned off, then 330 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 6: I won't listen, right, And they know from such a 331 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 6: young age how to do that, and so we're really 332 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 6: strict us to watch TV in the mornings. 333 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 2: The answer is no, we. 334 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 7: Don't watch TV in the mornings in our household. We're 335 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 7: getting ready, we're spending time as a family. So it's 336 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 7: really that later afternoon while we're prepping dinner, and he 337 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 7: knows as soon as we start cooking, oh, can I 338 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 7: watch Bluey Now It's like, yes, you can, because we 339 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 7: have that routine in our house and as he's getting older, 340 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 7: he's having a little bit more autonomy around that and 341 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 7: a bit more of a voice. 342 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 2: But we've paid very strict boundaries in our household around technology. 343 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: It just emphasizes, I guess, the importance of structure, boundaries, frameworks, 344 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: systems that makes the house go better. Matt Brianna, it's 345 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 1: just been such a fascinating conversation. My mind has really 346 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: been blown talking to you about the logistics and the 347 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: practicalities of how you've done it. Thanks for taking some 348 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: time out to chat with me on the podcast. About this, Well, 349 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: that's all right, thanks for having us a little bit 350 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: different than what we normally do. But but what a 351 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: delightful conversation. And I feel like I need to go 352 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: down to JB's or Kmart and pick up some smart 353 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 1: switches and hook them up to my WiFi. I like 354 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: the owner of the house telling my kids what to do 355 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: instead of me. The Happy Families podcast is produced by 356 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: Justin Rouland from Bridge Media. For more information and more 357 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: resources about making your family happier, visit happyfamilies dot com 358 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: dot au.