When parents feel like they've lost control of their children's tech usage, they can call up Daniel Towle.
12 years in London schools watching thousands of children interact with screens every day. I know exactly how these platforms capture attention and why children can't stop. I've tested every AI platform children use, and I've been through my own gaming recovery. Featured in The Washington Post.
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"Daniel understood our ADHD son immediately. The strategy he created actually works."
A screen time specialist helps parents understand why their child can't stop using devices and creates boundaries that actually stick. Unlike monitoring apps or generic "limit screen time" advice, I work with your family's specific situation — whether that's setting up a first phone, ending daily battles, addressing gaming addiction, or managing screens for a neurodivergent child. I combine 12 years of working directly with children in schools with personal experience of gaming and social media addiction to create plans that work in real life.
You want to get it right from the start. Avoid the battles other parents warn you about.
Every evening, the same fight. Negotiations, meltdowns, exhaustion. You've had enough.
They're physically there but mentally somewhere else. You miss who they used to be.
Standard advice doesn't work. 12 years in SEN settings means I understand why, and what does.
12 years of daily contact with children and technology — not theory, not research papers. I was in the room, every day, watching how children actually interact with screens. And I've been on every side of it.
Head of Technology, London schools. I managed every device, platform, and app that children used. I was responsible for the entire technology ecosystem — from choosing which devices to buy, to controlling what children could access, to training every teacher on how to use it.
Daily teaching, ages 5 to 12. I taught technology every single day. Laptops, iPads — I started to notice differences in how children learn on each device and I tested different methods to understand why.
Teacher training. I trained teachers how to use technology, which gave me insights most people miss — adults struggle with the same things their children do. The patterns are identical.
Parent workshops. I've delivered talks to parents on online safety, the methods platforms use to hook children, and what actually works when parental controls don't.
I've taught children whose parents are in the public eye. The one thing I've learned: every parent is worried about the same thing, no matter what your background is.
YouTube creator. I built my own channel from zero to 40,000 subscribers in a year — as a part-time hobby. I learned what it takes to be a successful YouTuber, the pull of the creative cycle, and the dangers of being an influencer. I understand why your child wants to be one.
Professional photographer. I worked for some of London's top fashion agencies, including London Fashion Week. I edited and manipulated images professionally. I understand how visual media shapes what children see and believe.
Ground zero generation. I was there at the point of origin. First mobile phone. MySpace. Facebook. Instagram. WhatsApp. I've watched every one of these platforms from their beginning to where they are now. I've experienced what your children are going through.
AI testing. Over a year testing AI platforms — for therapy use, for daily management, and for understanding what children are actually experiencing when they talk to a chatbot. Every word on this site is mine.
I specialise in gaming because I've been there myself. I built my own system to manage it — and I'm currently over 5 months without playing a video game. Cold turkey didn't work. My gradual method did.
That system is what I now teach families.
I surveyed children across my 12 years in schools. The results explain why screen time battles feel impossible to win.
Based on classroom observations across London primary schools, 2012-2024
wouldn't tell their parents if something worried them online — because they're scared they'll be in trouble.
believe they know more about technology than their parents. They probably do.
hear their parents say "kids these days are better at tech." This undermines your authority.
"This is what we're not talking about. Your child doesn't see you as someone who can help — they see you as someone who doesn't understand and will just punish them."
Get help that actually works — from someone who's been there.
Book Your Session£75 • 45 minutes • Available this week
I didn't think I had a problem — until I checked the UK definition. I developed a gradual reduction method that works where cold turkey fails. I understand the specific mechanics (matchmaking, battle passes, social pressure) that keep children hooked.
12 years in SEN settings. Standard "set a timer" advice doesn't work for neurodivergent brains — hyperfocus makes stopping physically painful, and executive function needs different boundaries. I create strategies specifically designed for how neurodivergent brains interact with technology.
Character AI, ChatGPT, Meta AI — children are forming relationships with AI chatbots. I've spent a year testing every platform children use to understand the risks parents need to know about.
"We wanted some advice on how to get ahead with teaching our son technology. Dan is great at coming up with creative ideas that our son loves to do. Highly recommended."
"We'd tried setting limits ourselves but nothing stuck. Daniel helped us find an approach that actually worked for our family."
"One session gave us more clarity than weeks of trying to figure it out ourselves. We finally understood what was actually going on."
If there was a parental control that actually worked, there would just be one. Instead, kids bypass them within weeks, and parents think they're protected when they're not.
When you take devices away suddenly, you've removed the dopamine hit without explanation or preparation. The brain responds exactly as it would to any addictive substance being withdrawn.
Years of screen time battles damage the parent-child relationship. Many parents feel they've "lost" their child. Part of what I do is help families reconnect — not just manage devices.
From my research with primary school children, most kids aren't that fussed about getting a phone. It's often parents pushing WhatsApp groups because they "need it for school." The pressure to give devices early comes from systems, not children.
I'm available for expert comment, interviews, and features on screen time, gaming addiction, AI safety for children, and digital parenting. I provide practical, experience-based insight — not academic theory.
For media enquiries: info@digitalfamilycoach.com
Fast turnaround. Available for live broadcast, pre-record, and print.
Here's what parents ask before booking.
Whether you're setting up a first device, tired of daily battles, worried it's gone too far, or want your child to thrive with technology — I can help. One 45-minute session. Concrete strategies. A plan built around YOUR family.
100% confidential • Video calls worldwide • No commitment required
£75 per session