Parenting Generation Screen: Guiding Your Kids to Be Wise in a Digital World

by Jonathan McKee

What every parent needs to know about screens and their kids.
Maybe your kids are like many others - glued to their smartphones, social media, and streaming entertainment. While we know excessive screen time, especially social media, isn’t healthy, how do we teach our kids to become screen-wise?
Prioritizing connection over correction, Parenting Generation Screen equips you with key questions and conversations to help you process screen limits with and for your kids. You’ll learn how to dialogue in meaningful ways about social media, entertainment, and screen time so they learn to be wise in the digital world.
Jonathan McKee speaks and writes worldwide about technology and social media for families - and has three kids of his own. He addresses such questions as: 
At what age should my child get a phone or screen?
Can my kid have a phone in their bedroom?
How does social media affect my teen’s mental health and sleep?
What dangers are really lurking on social media?
How can I best use parental controls?
In this extremely practical audiobook, you’ll gain confidence and find answers you need to set boundaries, guide your kids, and help them navigate the digital landscape.

Genres: Parenting

Audio CD

Published August 31, 2021

About the author

Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new IF I HAD A PARENTING DO OVER; 52 WAYS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE OBSESSED KID; and the Amazon "Best Seller," THE GUY'S GUIDE TO GOD, GIRLS AND THE PHONE IN YOUR POCKET. With over 20 years youth ministry experience, Jonathan speaks to parents and leaders worldwide. You can follow Jonathan on his blog at JonathanMcKeeWrites.com, getting a regular dose of youth culture and parenting help. Jonathan, his wife, Lori, and their three kids live in California.

Reviews

[Amy Hanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.7

I randomly picked up this book off of a display at the library. I didn’t love the Christian undertones, but it gave some good insight on how/when to deal with phones and the internet for the littles.

[Anne Ahrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and excellent book that I’d recommend to every parent.

[Kathi Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best book I’ve read on kids and screens. Helpful and hopeful. Highly recommend.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many good nuggets of wisdom in this. Need to re-read as the kids get older for sure. I recommend to all parents!

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super good tips in this book, very readable. I would recommend this to almost anyone with kids and fighting the screen problem that, I think, we all find ourselves battling. He offers, good, common-sense tips to combat the issue. The every-so-often religious interjections throughout feels strange, but is easy to ignore if Christianity and Screentime don't seem to go together for you (that's what i did). Ultimately, I skimmed a few pages that were not as related to my kids, but this book is a must read for all parents.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think there is a lot of excellent information and guidance in this book. However, the Jesus undertones were inappropriate, exclusionary, non-advertised, and took away from the overall objective of reading about how to provide our kids guidance about living with screens.

[Lauren Terwilliger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could. The main methodology of parenting the book presents is applying wisdom principles in the long run and customizing your family’s media interactions in ways that prioritize relationship over enforcing rules. It is very practical in laying out the conversational approach parents can have to put love before limits and get to the heart of the issue (if social media causes poor self-esteem, how can we be wise about its use?). The book addresses different media types (phones, video games, social media), various dangers (pornography, predators, addiction), and ends with various testimonies of parents who are in various phases of course correction or values implementation with regards to technology.

Overall, I reduced a half star because the questions at the end of each chapter for 75% of the book were repetitive (the exact same checklist) and I thought that while giving kids choices are a good way to practice wisdom and prepare for adulthood, I would not choose to allow a child who downloaded an app behind my back to have a choice where they can keep the app but just agree to meet with me about it.

I think the advice in the book is based on Biblical wisdom and contains a framework that every parent can use, but it was a little too “grace-based” for me personally.

[Beth Haynie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4. A really, really quick read for those who have any kids in their life. Screens are difficult to navigate even for adults. This book gives some practical advice on how to encourage responsible screen use at all ages. After all, eventually our children will move out of the house, and we want them to be prepared to make wise decisions on their own. Very helpful on what sorts of limits to put in place without being overly paranoid or resorting to fear-mongering.

[Danielle Blumer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was more than just parenting your Childrens screen time behaviors, it actually taught me a lot about parenting in general, especially as I enter the tween years. So many practical tips on how to connect before correcting and how beneficial that is in protecting the relationship. This one will definitely be on my shelf for me to come back to.

[Amy Denham · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5…maybe even 5 for content. Some parts got repetitive, but I could see that as being helpful if someone were working through the book in one-chapter sections, rather than reading it straight through. Important information about technology use, neither demonizing it nor glossing over serious issues. I appreciated the Christian worldview.

[Yohana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for every parent/guardian/caretaker of screen generation kids. If we can’t avoid screen time, then it’s best to control and manage it well. Unless you’re living in jungle with no screen no internet at home, you’re going to need this book. The writing is on-point, easy to understand, not too heavy but yet substantial.

[Brandon Hair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about protecting your kids online. Typically, there are two types of book on such a topic - overbearing or oblivious. This one strikes a refreshing balance and encourages parents to prioritize connection over control. Teach your kids to make wise decisions, check in with them often, and loosen the reigns appropriately as they mature. I’ll be implementing much of this with my kids.

[Aaron Eichler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has amazing advice when it comes to screen time for your kids. My son does have an old phone, but he does not get it often. The weirdest thing I was thinking while reading was how different the world is since I was a kid. Smartphones did not even exist, I think bag car phones were the only mobile phones I saw.

[Maia James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written from a Christian perspective with explicitly Christian themes but the majority of the advice is accessible and applicable regardless of faith or lack thereof. Even the explicitly Christian sections are relatable for people of other religions as well, such as focusing on identity as a noble creation of God.

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! This book was practical and an easy read. I am thankful to have a guide as I traverse through the teens years with my youngest two children.

[Rachael Carmichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has started great conversations with my teen. It has given me the tips I need to keep my daughter safe. I feel more confident about phones now that I have read this.

[Tiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Highly recommend!!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I would have read this book when my oldest was in the middle elementary years. Have already recommended to several peoole!

[Heather Purvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.7

[Elizabeth Jessen Marchenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly insightful, practical, and not fearmongering for a FotF publication. A good read for parents navigating screens and kids

[Morgan O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as parenting advice relating to smart phones goes, this is the most realistic book I've read.

[Carey Hanzlicek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Very relatable.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for every parent or guardian. I love this it is a practical and applicable book.

[Jessica Dimitro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a MUST read. Get it in your hands!!

[Alexis Guasta-Ibarra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe all parents should read this before handing their child a tablet or phone. There is so much out there we don't realize is harming the mental health of our children and we can change that.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book and one that I will be recommending to others and revisiting in the future! A great book to have in your library as you guide your children in today's digital age!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was extremely helpful and relevant to a challenging part of parenting with a screen culture. Listened to the audiobook.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t agree with all things but there is definitely some great ways of dealing with screens. I really liked the connect before you correct and setting clear boundaries.

[David Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read, alarming stats, very practical applications. Great resource.

[Lori Divine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminder to self to re-read this again in a few years!