Technology is hard. Parenting is harder.
There are so many resources to parent the “right” way. But we know that there’s no one definitive strategy to raise a child. It gets worse - technology has made parenting even more challenging than it once was. And for many moms and dads, there’s no single for all the different trustworthy technology resources that are out there. That’s a problem! I hope the collection I have here will be profitable and save all of you some headache as you seek the answer to “how does technology fit into our family’s life?”
The point of this list is not to show you a bunch of tools that will do your parenting for you. The only people who can parent are - well - parents. Tools simply can not replace self-discipline in yourself and your family.
iPhone Resources
Wellbeing and Parental Controls
Apple iPhones and iPads come equipped with screen time controls and parental controls.
Android Resources
Wellbeing and Parental Controls
You can download Google’s Wellbeing assistant for free. Google also allows you to configure a family group to help you keep tabs on what’s going on with other devices- especially devices for children.
Download Google Digital Wellbeing
Services to help you parent well
Apart from built in tools on all your phones, there are many apps to help you steward both your use and your family’s use of phones and tablets. Some recommendations below.
Qustodio (qustodio.com) - A full suite of parental controls. Not just an app - a holistic approach.
CovenantEyes (covenanteyes.com) - Accountability software that can help manage the kinds of sites you and your family can access. Also allows for report generation to show what subscribers are looking at across many devices.
Recommended Reading
How much time do you typically have to devote to reading?
10 minutes or less at a time (articles and books with short chapters)
6 Tech Habits that are Changing the American Home - Barna Group
Forming Family Values in a Digital Age - Barna Group
We Need a Theology of Technology - The Gospel Coalition
Stop Acting Like Technology Holds You Hostage - The Gospel Coalition
Competing Spectacles - Tony Reinke
30 minutes at a time (long form blogs and books)
The Tech-Wise Family - Andy Crouch
Inclined to Boast: Social Media and Self-Justification - A. Trevor Sutton
An hour at a time (books)
Shepherding a Child’s Heart - Paul Tripp
Other Resources
I co-led a class about the intersection of technology and Christianity. All sessions and presentations are available here.