The Screentime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a Tech-Intentional Family

by Emily Cherkin

A judgment-free guide for parents who want to better understand and balance family screentime in the digital age. Author Emily Cherkin―aka The Screentime Consultant―has written a compelling and necessary book about parenting in the modern digital age. Unlike any previous generation, children’s excessive screen use today at home and at school impacts mental health and family relationships. Parents have concerns about the amount of time children spend on devices and want to do better. They’re just not sure what to do or where to start. In The Screentime Solution , Emily teaches parents to become “tech-intentional”: using screen-based technologies to enhance, nurture, and align with family values while avoiding, delaying, or limiting screentime that interferes with healthy mental, physical, cognitive, and emotional development. With humor, empathy, and experience, Emily invites parents to • become tech-intentional, without feeling judged, shamed, or blamed;
• implement her research-supported, developmentally appropriate tools to find screentime balance; and
• build a movement around tech-intentionality (this is good for everyone ―children and adults alike). The Screentime Solution will remain useful even as technology changes because being tech-intentional is an approach that can―and should―remain a constant.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology, Technology

232 pages, Hardcover

Published January 9, 2024

Reviews

[Dez the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. As we find ourselves more and more into the technology world, it can be hard to break away from screens as they are literally everywhere.

This was a great book to help parents gain some good insight and direction on how to be more intentional with screens and how to not use them so much.

Nice easy self-help read.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main takeaways:

1- Some is okay, too much is bad. (But of course that's always subjective.)

2- "Live out loud"--I think this is the most helpful bit. When you use your phone or tablet, explain what you're doing, because it isn't obvious: "I am checking this recipe for what ingredients we need," and even "I opened the news app because I was bored, but it didn't really make me feel any better for doing it."

3- Age 10 (and around, I assume) is a groundswell of difference. You can think you're doing great, but before then you are the one with access and control of media. Once they are able to navigate tech without you, and once their friends become greater magnets than you, the rules become less important than the principles you've instilled. So instill them early, before 10, for best results.

4- Everyone will have screentime. You might not even own a TV, but school, friends, others will provide screen access.

5- Teach your kids how manipulation comes through the design of the screens: "This app says it's free, but it will want you to buy more things inside of the app," or "I know it's hard to end this game--it doesn't have a clear stopping point, so it makes our brains want to keep going until we drop."

[Lindsay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the opportunity of trusting me with a review. I have a hyper active son and a family member that loves to critique and comment on his screentime that we allow. So I loved reading what the real experts say about screentime. Although I knew a lot of these points because I have looked into things before. This book went into great detail over topics like Alingning screen use with family values, scary versus dangerous and safety, it's not like when we were kids, and many more. This is a book I can refer back to when I have issues arise. This book also stresses that parenting isn't perfect and if we are doing 80% we are succeeding. Thank you for that. Give this book a try if you have questions about how we should be raising our kids with scrrentime. It is an easy and interesting read I flew through the book.

[Grace Tolman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprise favorite for me.

One of the things that I've noticed with non-fiction books, especially the self help ones, is that they would speak on an idea for the first two chapters and get regurgitated for the rest of the book. They don't give you any new ideas after chapter 2 and/or no practical advise.

But this book was not one of them. I really liked that it is a combination of research, stories, and practical advise. I even used some of them already and it is helping with the whining and complaining that my child does after we cut off the device time for that day. The advise is very realistic and, like the book said, non judgmental.

I learned a lot and I've been sharing this read to anyone that I talk with at this time.

[Sarah Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It is the parent of children over 10 who find me, but the parents of children under 10 who need me."

Wow, this was an incredible read. If you have kids of any age and need guidance for better, more intentional screen usage for you and your family, READ THIS.

"Judgement-free" for sure, but not guilt-free. At least not for this Gen Z mom of 2. I learned so much about myself and my own screen use. And the guilt was quickly washed away with CONFIDENCE to do something about it! I'm excited for the challenge of modeling better screen use to my kids. And I hope to truly become a "tech-intentional" family.

"Normalize missteps; they are teachable moments"

[Tara Hoefs McGaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I won a copy of this book through Goodreads. This was a much-needed read for me and my family. I'm a mom of three kids (ages 12, 9, and 4) and my husband and I have been struggling with the issue of screentime. Ever since our oldest has brought home a personal computer from school it's been a daily battle. I don't normally highlight things in books, but there were so many good nuggets that I wanted to remember that I was highlighting things like crazy on my Kindle. I love that the author highlighted the importance of aligning screentime with your family value and I also really liked the idea of living out loud. I would encourage everyone to read this book no matter if you have little kids or older kids. It's a bit of a kick in the behind about your own personal screentime use as well, however, I never once felt judged or shamed for what I've been doing. Highly, highly recommend this book (and also would recommend buying a physical copy so you can mark it up).

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is not a parent yet but is already mindful of the problems with modern technology and its effects not only on us as adults but of course on children as well, I found a lot of value from reading this book. It has opened my eyes to the realities of the danger of giving children so much access to tech while they’re too underdeveloped to understand how to navigate it well & made me re-evaluate my own tech practices and how I can be more intentional with them. Highly recommend to anyone interested in the topic - very well written & an easy, engaging read.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the better books I have read about how to incorporate screentime into our lives and those of our children in a realistic and healthy manner. As a parent and teacher whose childhood took place in the 70s and 80s, I'm often frustrated by the negative impact that screens have on the lives of my own children, as well as those of my students. This book offered practical tips but also presented a new way of framing screen use for our family going forward.

***I received a copy of The Screentime Solution from NetGallary.

[Simms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really useful book for parents looking to navigate screen use for their families. Perhaps a little more useful for parents with older children (tweens and teens) but thought-provoking for parents with kids of any age. I've definitely adopted some of the approaches it describes (and will keep others in mind as my children age).

Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for the ARC.

[Elizabeth Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from goodreads. This book is spot on with everything. My kids are grown know but my oldest when she got her phone you could not pry it away from her. She still did other stuff but the phone was always with here. So if she got in trouble we took her phone for her punishment. So she hardly ever got in trouble.My oldest also loves to read like me. My youngest hates to read and she likes YouTube and other things we did the same thing but she didn’t care but I had pretty good kids that minded pretty well so. But I never helicoptered my kids they need to make there own mistakes they knew where we were if they needed us. I was never in the school all the time unless the teacher asked for a meeting or something

[Kristen Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend!
Every generation of parents have different and unique challenges and many current day families are dealing with screen times challenges. While many of these topics may seem to be common sense, it was a positive experience to hear from professionals on the positives and negatives. Quick and helpful read! Recommend to anyone with children ages 1-18!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this helpful reference and I highly recommend this book to any parents. This book is full of useful information on creating a family strategy to deal with the ever increasing use of screens

[Erica H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It really helped me understand that my relationship with technology greatly impacts my children. I loved the sections on talking to little kids vs older kids. Highly recommend for any parents struggling to raise their kids in this tech-driven society.

[Mistery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 7.9/10 ⭐️

Authenticity - 8 ⭐️

Charisma - 7 ⭐️

Emotional Response - 6 ⭐️

Enjoyment - 8 ⭐️

Interest Level - 9 ⭐️

Story - 7 ⭐️

Progression - 8 ⭐️

Satisfying Ending - 8 ⭐️

Thought Provoking Themes - 10 ⭐️

Well Written - 8 ⭐️

Writing Style - 8 ⭐️

[Jackie Markowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish every parent could read this book (and talk with others about it!). Great tips for being a reflective parent and a true emphasis on being tech intentional! It inspired me to DO BETTER (but take baby steps!)

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great foundational book on intentionality with screens for the family - particularly for those with younger kids preparing for the days when smartphones, etc become a consuming issue. I found many of the parenting and technology concepts familiar, but it had some good reminders.

[Amanda Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great tool for parents and teachers to be more intentional around technology. Kids are losing executive functioning skills like socializing, handwriting, critical thinking, etc. Skills before Tech.

[Beth SHULAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much needed reference and advise on technology and how our children are using it. A must read for parents in the digital age,

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important book for every parent to read!

[Desiree Wills Velazco · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best of its kinds! I love that it lays out the problem in a realistic, non fear based way and then gives actual personalized and practical solutions