5 Habits of the Tech-Ready Family: Raising Wise Kids in a Wild Digital World

by Chris McKenna

With just five simple habits, you can shape an environment where your kids grow confident, resilient, and ready to face the challenges, dangers, and opportunities of an ever-changing online world.

Childhood today looks very different than it used to. Smartphones and social media shape how kids play, learn, and connect. But behind the screens lurks a digital monster engineered to capture their attention and feed on their minds and hearts. Platforms pull children into endless dopamine loops, exploiting their curiosity and unique vulnerabilities. Without guidance, kids can't break free on their own.

In 5 Habits of the Tech-Ready Family, author Chris McKenna--founder of the leading ministry in digital safety, Protect Young Eyes--provides hope and help for parents who want to foster connection, build resilience, and prevent harm as they help their children grow into wise navigators of a wild digital world.

Supported by science, built on deep experience and biblical truth, and proven by thousands of success stories, the principles and strategies outlined in this book will help you

Understand the key developmental stages of your child's brain and how addictive technologies are designed to exploit themBuild a five-habit framework that will move your parenting from scared and overwhelmed to prepared and confidentTalk to your kids about difficult topics like pornography, online predators, and sextortion in an age-appropriate way with practical, step-by-step guidanceImplement a five-layered pyramid of protection to prevent harm and create a safer digital environment in your home 

The digital world is a minefield--but it can be navigated wisely and well by parents and kids alike. This book shows you how.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Christian, Audiobook

256 pages, Paperback

Published June 16, 2026

Reviews

[Abby]

Practical, helpful, kind tone. Eventually some of the info will get outdated but the website and helpful places to get info is there. This is kind of anxious generation but way simplified and has a Christian perspective. Great read!

[A Good Book Hunt]

This book went immediately onto my list of books every Christian parent should read.

Chris McKenna tackles topics that can feel overwhelming and intimidating—addictive technologies, pornography, sextortion, AI, social media, and the broader digital world our children are growing up in—but he does so with compassion, clarity, and hope, helping equip parents to engage intentionally and proactively.

One of the most powerful themes throughout the book is the reminder that so much of today’s digital environment is intentionally designed to capture attention and exploit vulnerability, which makes it especially important for Christian parents seeking to raise their children with wisdom and discernment.

McKenna encourages parents to approach their children with empathy and understanding when difficult situations arise, while also emphasizing the importance of guidance, boundaries, and ongoing conversations.

This one is practical and full of examples to help your family navigate this world well. McKenna includes concrete ideas for families—technology safeguards, home internet protections, accountability tools, device access expectations, and creating healthy digital habits. But he makes it clear that technology solutions alone are not enough.

The real foundation, he says, is relationship.

He continually points parents back to building trust, having conversations early and often, reminding kids that they can come to us without fear, and creating a home where children know their parents are on their side. This aligns with the biblical call to “train up a child in the way he should go,” shaping both guidance and relationship as central to raising children with wisdom.

The book is also research-backed and grounded in experience, with stories that illustrate both the real dangers families face and examples of what is helping parents succeed.

McKenna also addresses parents who feel like they’re already behind—those whose kids already have phones or social media accounts—encouraging parents that it’s not too late to make changes, set new boundaries, increase conversations, and intervene for the sake of their children’s well-being.

I would recommend this book to parents of children of all ages, including young children. It provides a framework not just for managing devices, but for raising kids with wisdom, connection, and intentionality in a digital age from a Christian worldview.

This is an important, timely, and empowering resource that left me feeling more informed, more confident, and more motivated to take meaningful steps to help protect and guide my children.

#delayistheway

*I received a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Jennifer]

I was one of the people sitting in that very first presentation Chris gave many years ago at our church. At the time, we had a 5-year-old son. Today, that same little boy is 16, and holding this book in my hands feels incredibly special as I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the journey Chris took to make this dream a reality.
We are absolutely a “tech family,” and I’ve trusted Chris’s advice and guidance from day one. As his work has grown into an incredible team now recognized around the world, his mission has remained the same: helping families navigate technology with confidence, intention, and balance. He is truly protecting our kids - and us adults, too.
This book deserves your time and attention. It’s smart, relatable, and filled with practical ideas that families can actually implement. It’s real, authentic, and yes - at times, blunt - but in all the right ways. Rather than leaving you feeling judged or shamed, it leaves you inspired, renewed, and equipped with tools to create healthier habits for your family. Whether you’re raising young children or navigating the teenage years like we are, The 5 Habits of Tech-Ready Families offers thoughtful guidance without judgment.
If technology is part of your family’s everyday life (and let’s be honest, it is), this is a book you’ll be glad you read—and one you’ll come back to again and again. We are incredibly grateful for Chris and the entire Protect Young Eyes team, and I have no doubt you will be too.

[Bookish Fam]

This book is so so good and so important for parents to read. I will say, these topics made me feel quite anxious because the tech world feels so overwhelming as a parent. The tech world we live in was not designed for children, and more so is actually used to hurt children. This book gives so many practical things to do (including going through what kind of router to get and how to set up parental controls). I love that the baseline for everything in this book is our relationships with our kids, and remembering it’s not us vs our kids, but us and our kids vs tech companies designed to make them addicted. It’s an important, but hard read.

[Will Abrams]

Easy to read and very helpful. The book is written in a way that people who have little understanding of technology should be able to keep up, while those with more knowledge won't get bored with dumbed down material. Every chapter includes immediate action points along with longer practical takeaways. Whether you adopt the full program detailed in this book or just pick a few tips to implement, I believe you'll be better prepared for issues that may arise from tech in the home.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy.

[Sally Ostrow]

This remarkable book should be required reading for every parent. I have two young children who have already begun to develop attachments to tech. YouTube is the main attraction at their ages. After reading 5 Habits I feel less overwhelmed and ready to begin having important conversations with them. Open dialogue and trust will lay the groundwork of keeping them safe. Tackling our router is next. I had no idea I could set up safeguards through our existing router. Thank you Chris McKenna for walking parents and caretakers through the gauntlet of evolving technology!

[Kristy Robinson]

This was aggressively, overtly Christian. I didn’t realize that going into it. There are some good suggestions in here, but not enough concrete steps to make kids tech-savvy as I’d hoped. I already agree with all of the harm that can come from tech, but I was looking for more ways to integrate kids and tech while protecting them at the same time.

[Amy Bell]

5 Habits of the Tech Ready Family by Chris McKenna is a must read for parents who have kids still living under their roof. Written by the leader for Protect Young Eyes, Chris reminds parents that the world we grew up in, is not the world our kids are growing up in. There are some scary statistics in the book but he doesn’t leave you without hope. Chris gives you multiple ways to protect your kids from the dangers that tech brings. He brings a balanced approach that doesn’t shame the parents for giving away tech too early. This is a rare 5star book for me. I listened on the audiobook version but will likely go get a print copy as well.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook for my honest opinion.

[Kait Neel]

This book is remarkable. It is well organized and keeps you engaged. I appreciate the stories shared, they get the points across well. This book will give you the tools you need to feel a little bit more on top of tech and how to protect your children. I have so much more I want to get out of this book, so I’ll be buying a hard copy that I can highlight and read with my husband.

[Amy]

Couldn’t recommend this more for parents navigating the waters of tech with their children. So so good! Especially for those of us that are not digital natives. This is all new territory for us and we cannot reflect back on our own experiences as children to rely on.

[Diana Lehner-Gulotta]

📖 5/5 ⭐️ Ten thousand percent a must-read for anyone with kids in this day and age! Gave me so much to think about and I feel prepared to protect our kids from the harms of technology.

[Kathryn Wells]

Not enough parents are equipped with this knowledge, and this is the book we've all been waiting for. Tech is here and it's here to stay, but let's do tech right for our kids. Biblically based and scientifically backed.

Get a copy. Take notes all over the thing. And then take action.

[Brooke]

Chris McKenna and Protect Young Eyes are doing Holy work. This book has helpful, practical steps to helping your family with technology no matter how old your kids are, or what rules you have had in the past. The information included is incredibly valuable. I would say this is a must-read for every single parent. The tech companies are sneaky, and the research-documented harms are many. My daughter is only 6 months old, but I lived through middle & high school in the 2010’s with free access to the internet. I am committed to raising her to be smart about technology and delaying addictive tech. My life, and the lives of my friends around me, have been so negatively affected by how the growth of technology has played out. I am now a 4th grade teacher and watching as this new generation is experiencing similar and worse issues with low attention spans and ruined childhoods. I had the pleasure of working with Chris on a project for my school. He is a wonderful Christian man who truly cares about families and kids! Chris lays out easy to follow steps and the science behind them. Grab a highlighter and get reading!

[Carol Ghattas]

Though I don't have any children in my house, I chose to buy this book because I wanted to be informed. There are so many challenges facing families today (and even older adults) in relation to the ever-present internet and media, and Chris McKenna has provided an easy-to-read, practical guide for parents and adults who care about the impact of technology on our children.

I love the subtitle: Raising Wise Kids in a Wild Digital World. If that's not a worthy goal, I don't know what is. The book is not hard to comprehend and is full of QR codes to recommended sites and extra help along the way. Think about this statement as you consider buying this book: "Kids are physically safer than ever because they rarely leave the house! But today's digital parks are infinite in number, and kids spend time in them from the comfort of their bedrooms. Therefore, we now teach our kids to identify strangers not by what they look like but rather by what they talk like."

If you have children in your life, you need to read this book.

[Sarah Brown]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley

I think everyone needs to read this book. This was so informative and eye-opening! My only complaint was that I didn't have the physical copy also! I prefer to listen to everything, but this had so many points that needed highlighting, and I found myself taking notes on my phone almost the entire time (ironic, I know). I loved how each chapter had simple steps to take to make the changes you need in your family, I immediately started making those that I could. My son is 11, and doesn't have phone yet, and I am so glad we have waited. A lot of the changes in the book were things I needed to do for myself. It hit hard when it said, "Don't worry that your kids aren't listening to you, worry that they are watching you". WOW. I needed to hear that. I have found myself telling people little tidbits here and there of what I heard in the book, and really hope others pick this up.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kellen Reynolds]

This was definitely better than “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt. It felt like Haidt was just on a rant the whole time. This book by McKenna did a great job of laying out the problems and giving solutions to them. I would recommend this book for sure. It gives parents the understanding that there are evil things that we don’t know about or can’t even comprehend out there that are trying to get our kids. But then he tells us how we can be proactive to keep them safe!

[Keri]

So practical! And helpful! I listened on audio but bought the print version to be able to refer to.

[Stephanie Quesnelle]

Chris provides explicit and attainable habits for families. This is not a book about avoiding technology, but how to introduce technology into your kids life in a way that gives them a good foundation to respond to nefarious actors. It gives parents concrete steps to take to protect their kids as they also introduce new ways for their kids to utilize technology.

[Di]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars

As a homeschool mom raising kids in a world where screens, social media, gaming, and smartphones are everywhere, I found 5 Habits of the Tech-Ready Family to be both eye-opening and practical. Chris McKenna does a great job explaining how today's digital platforms are designed to capture attention and why children need guidance rather than unlimited access.

What I appreciated most was that this book didn't just focus on fear-(though the dangers are definitely front and center) it also focused on helping parents move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling informed and prepared. The discussions around online pred8tors, p0rnography, s€xtortion, and digital safety are handled in a way that encourages parents to start the hard conversations rather than avoid them.

I think this is a valuable read for all parents. Whether you ultimately allow social media, gaming, smartphones, or not, the information helps you make educated decisions for your own family while better understanding the risks that come with giving the online world access to your children. Thought-provoking, practical, and full of important conversations every parent should be having. 📱🖤📚

🎧 Chris McKenna also narrates the audiobook himself, which added authenticity and passion to the material. It felt less like a lecture and more like a conversation from someone deeply invested in helping families navigate technology well.

Audiobook: 6h 50m 🎧 (listened at 1.25x speed)

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Barb Winters]

I have a ton of respect for Chris McKenna and the work he is doing. He understands today’s digital world and does his research. I regularly recommend Protect Young Eyes to parents who come to me at Hopeful Mom about their child’s online behavior, and I will now also recommend this book.

Chris boldly talks about his own struggles in the introduction, which helps us believe he has our children’s best interest at heart. He weaves Scripture as well as brain science throughout the book, helping parents learn why our children struggle and how to best keep them from harm.

The five habits are laid out clearly and explained well. He uses examples and former interactions with parents to help demonstrate the ease and effectiveness of each habit. His tone is one of authority, yet we also believe Chris is walking with us. The information is up-to-date and accurate. I’m grateful the book addresses pornography, gaming, sextortion, AI, and the “toxic trio.” And he stresses the importance of relationships, which is foundational.

This book is well written, and I highly recommend it to each and every parent.

[Dan Breen]

This book gives a family a leg up on understanding the breadth and depth of keeping a family safe, informed, and ready for the modern world of technology. Chris McKenna does talk about it framed in a moral light, with some Christian scripture and history, bon’t let that stop you! Those points are all common ground among all beliefs systems. (If you’re looking to protect your kids, you will be OK with everything he says). His discussion is honest, well framed, and direct. Do we want to discuss pornography with our kids? No. Do we NEED to? YES! Do we describe intercourse to our 4 year old, NO. Chris calls out the support system that we need to build with our children to ensure that they bring their questions to us, their Gaurdians, rather than the Internet.

[Sam]

DNF at 20%.

This book approaches technology and parenting from both a digital safety and Christian perspective. While I appreciated the author’s emphasis on intentional family connection and thoughtful technology use, I found the overall tone more fear-focused than practical for my personal preferences. As I continued listening, I found myself spending more time managing anxiety about potential harms than absorbing actionable guidance. Readers seeking a cautionary, faith-informed approach to digital parenting may find value here, but ultimately it was not the right fit for me.

[Leslie]

This book is good for everyone to read, but I would especially recommend it for anyone with children in their lives.

Chris McKenna gives practical advice on what we are faced with in the digital world and addresses the issues -- how our brains interact with it, how it impacts us day-to-day, etc. I know it personally has caused me to rethink how I am using some things.

If anyone is hesitant to read it due to Christian content, I hope you'll read it anyway. While it does occasionally mention scripture that pertains to certain topics, it is not preachy by any means and is worth the read.

[Matt]

4 out of 5 ⭐

Chris McKenna does a good job balancing a thoughtful Christian perspective with practical, hands-on advice. The book clearly defines the challenges technology presents to families, shares helpful anecdotes, and offers actionable solutions rather than just raising concerns.

I also appreciate that this isn't just a book—Chris continues to invest in educating and equipping parents through the Protect Young Eyes initiative. If you're looking to be intentional rather than passive about how technology fits into your home, this is a worthwhile read.

[Meg]

Highly recommend this read if you have kids or have kids in your life. Parenting in the digital age is a different beast than what previous generations have been up against. I appreciated the practical steps recommended for conversations with kids as well as family rules/safe guards to put in place. Thank you netgalley for this ARC!

[Molly Poppe]

Incredible guide for parents in navigating modern tech.

The principles are simple to understand and adapt to any situation, but some pieces are incredibly relevant right now (hello, AI) so I also hope it is updated often to inform and support parents through the ever changing internet environment.

[Kendra King]

10/10 stars. Wish I could convince every teacher, parent, grandparent, friend, aunt, uncle etc to read this. This contents matters so much. Very practical ideas to help keep our kids (and us) safe and informed in this digital world.

[Ron Frampton]

five simple habits that can help your kids faces challenges in the online world.

[Ryan Kleimola]

Should be required reading for every parent. This book is not just good advice for tech smarts and safety, but also has some great parenting guidance in general.

[Cassie O'Neal]

Filled with wonderful advice. Every parent and grandparent should read this book.