Why Toy Story 5 Is the Parenting Wake- Up Call We Didn't See Coming

By Josephine Hunt

NYU ​M.A. Special Education and M.A. Educational Leadership 

Toy Meets Tech

On June 16, I had the privilege of speaking with CNN journalist Sandra Gonzalez regarding Toy Story 5 and the film's timely exploration of children's relationship with technology. As an educator, educational leader, parenting consultant, and founder of The Resilience Revolution™, I found myself reflecting on just how relevant this conversation has become for today's families.

For many of us, the announcement of Toy Story 5 triggered that all-too-familiar pang of parent guilt.

In an era where we are constantly told that screens are the enemy, seeing a film centered on a child becoming increasingly attached to a digital device felt like it might become another lecture about everything parents are doing wrong.

We have all been there.

Perhaps it was a few episodes of Bluey while preparing dinner, a movie during a long car ride, or a tablet handed over during an important work call. Most parents are not using technology because they are lazy. Most are simply trying to navigate the realities of modern family life.

What makes Toy Story 5 so powerful is that it moves beyond blame and begins asking deeper questions.

Not "Is technology bad?"

But rather:

"What role should technology play in a healthy childhood?"

It's a Household Issue, Not a Kid Issue

One of the most powerful themes in the film is the image of entire neighborhoods glowing blue from screens. Families are physically together, yet emotionally disconnected.

As I shared during my conversation with CNN, this is not simply a child problem. It is a household problem.

Children, especially those between birth and age seven, learn primarily through observation and imitation. They watch everything we do.

The challenge is that children do not understand the difference between a parent answering work emails and a parent scrolling social media.

To a child, a screen is a screen.

They see us on our devices and naturally think:

"I want to be like Mom."

"I want to be like Dad."

If we want our children to have a healthy relationship with technology, we must first examine our own.

What Childhood Has Lost

Throughout my work with families and schools, I often speak about a growing concern:

Children are losing opportunities for the very experiences that build resilience.

Face-to-face conversations.

Imaginative play.

Boredom.

Problem-solving.

Independence.

Neighborhood friendships.

Unstructured exploration.

These experiences are not extras.

They are developmental necessities.

When technology begins replacing rather than supplementing these experiences, we should pay attention.

This is one of the reasons I am currently writing my upcoming book, The Resilience Revolution, and developing my companion podcast, Raising a Resilient Child: The Power of a Parent.

Both projects explore a simple but powerful question:

How do we raise resilient, capable children in an increasingly digital world?

The Rise of "Acquired ADHD"

One concern many educators have observed in recent years is the growing number of children exhibiting ADHD-like behaviors despite having no underlying neurological diagnosis.

Some professionals have begun referring to this phenomenon as "acquired ADHD."

To be clear, ADHD is a legitimate neurological condition.

However, excessive exposure to highly stimulating digital content may create similar patterns of dysregulation, impulsivity, shortened attention spans, frustration intolerance, and difficulty engaging with slower-paced real-world activities.

Children's brains are adapting to environments that move faster than normal human interaction.

The result is that ordinary life can begin to feel under-stimulating.

Technology Should Be a Supplement, Not a Foundation

One of the most important messages I took from Toy Story 5 is that the film is not anti-technology.

In many ways, it reminds me of the original Toy Story.

When Buzz Lightyear arrived, Woody feared he would replace everything that came before him.

But ultimately, Buzz and Woody learned to work together.

Technology should function the same way.

Technology is not the foundation.

It is the supplement.

Just as calculators did not replace mathematics and digital books did not replace literacy, technology should enhance learning and relationships rather than replace them.

The goal is not elimination.

The goal is balance.

From Digital Dictator to Digital Coach

One of the greatest shifts parents can make is moving from being reactive to being proactive.

Many families address technology only after a problem occurs.

Instead, I encourage parents to become digital coaches.

Before the sleepover.

Before the group chat.

Before the gaming platform.

Before social media.

Ask your child:

How long should phones be used?

What will we do together besides screens?

What happens if someone says something hurtful?

What would you do if something online made you uncomfortable?

When we prepare children ahead of time, we build metacognition, self-awareness, and decision-making skills.

Building Mental Wealth

Much of my work has evolved from conversations about mental health to conversations about what I call Mental Wealth.

Mental Wealth is the internal collection of skills that help children thrive:

Self-worth.

Resilience.

Confidence.

Empathy.

Purpose.

Problem-solving.

Emotional regulation.

Technology cannot provide these things.

These qualities are built through relationships, challenges, mistakes, effort, and growth.

Children who learn to trust their inner compass become less dependent on external validation from likes, followers, streaks, and algorithms.

They become more resilient.

The Question Every Family Should Ask

Technology is here to stay.

The question is not whether our children will use it.

The question is whether technology is serving our family or whether our family is serving technology.

Tonight, as you drive through your neighborhood, notice the glowing windows.

Then look at your own.

Ask yourself:

Is technology supplementing our family life?

Or has it quietly become the foundation of it?

The answer may tell us more about our children's future than any app ever could.

For additional resources on resilience, parenting, child development, digital wellness, and healthy childhood experiences, visit https://www.JosephineHunt.com/Resources.