“I did everything they tell you, and I did it perfectly—and it failed me and almost destroyed my child.” — Amanda Diekman, author of Low Demand Parenting
Amanda re-joins the podcast (Ep. 13) for a conversation that challenges everything you’ve been taught to fear about screentime.
This episode was recorded live inside 90-Minute School Day In The Life (DITL) homeschool community, where Amanda dropped in straight from the soccer field and jumped into a vulnerable, grounded discussion about screens, shame, and agency.
Together, we explore:
- Amanda’s story and why screentime is never just about screentime
- The hidden cost of control and the harm of “doing it right”
- What it means to trust your child with their own self-regulation
- The deep nervous system work involved in loosening limits and dropping demands
- How unlimited screentime can foster real-life skills, body awareness, and discernment
- What happens when we stop managing the screen and start supporting the human using it
You’ll also hear anonymized responses from DITL community members about how screentime looks in their homes—showcasing the rich diversity of approaches, and the shared heart of parents trying to lead with love.
This is Part 2 in our 4-part Tech & Learning series, so make sure to check out the other episodes where we explore mindsets, boundaries, using AI in our homeschools, play, and learning in the digital age.
amanda diekman
Amanda is an unschooling mother of three neurodivergent children, a late-diagnosed PDA autistic adult, and the creator of the Low Demand approach—a radical, relationship-centered guide to parenting. A Duke graduate and ordained pastor (with a past life as a national trampoline champion!), Amanda brings deep compassion and lived experience to families navigating nervous system burnout and the overwhelm of conventional parenting. She’s on a mission to help parents find a gentler, more connected way forward—one that honors the needs of the whole family and embraces each child exactly as they are.
Resources and Support
- Learn more about Amanda Diekman on her website
- Get Amanda’s book: Low Demand Parenting
- Listen to Amanda’s first conversation with us in Episode 13 of the podcast, “Don’t Let Demands Overwhelm You: Less is More”
- Read Kelly’s story and approach: 90minuteschoolday.com/story
- Join the DITL interest list: 90minuteschoolday.com/day-in-the-life
- Get on the waitlist for Guide Training™: 90minuteschoolday.com/guide-training
- Book 1:1 coaching with Kelly: 90minuteschoolday.com/coaching
- Listen to or invite Kelly to speak about the 90-Minute School Day™ here.
At the end of the day, trust your instincts and explore alternatives to what isn’t working!
I’d love to connect personally, find me on Instagram.
You’re doing a great job, let’s make it easier!
Kelly
Be Featured on the Podcast!
The 90-Minute School Day™ podcast aims to support all homeschooling families with a focus on neurodiverse families, with learning differences and unique learning styles. Be featured on the podcast by sharing your story, struggle or asking your question here. Or leave your recording by clicking the mic below.
