It can be easy to tell when our children are unhealthy with their tech (check out episodes, 71, 54, 53, 49 and many others!), but what should we do about it? One of my all-time favorite options is the Analog Adventure. Today we'll discuss how we can find real-world outlets for energy and creativity that our children will love to do and that will inspire more of who God has created them to be rather than distract from his purpose and plans for them.

Should our children be on social media? This conversation can feel loaded. Kids often believe it includes a request for a smartphone (because which kid honestly would prefer to use social media from a shared public computer?) and parents frequently have no idea what to make of most of the apps out there. 
Today we're going to clarify that there is, in fact, a Biblical standard for social media. We'll talk about how we make these big decisions with our children, what parents need to know in order to be informed, and what benefits and potential pitfalls we should expect when stepping into the world of algorithm-controlled relationships.

Should our children play video games? 
More than 2/3 of Americans play video games, and it's a fairly even split between males and females (although mays tend to put in the most time). So there's a good chance our children will ask us if they can play video games, and we want to have an answer built out of the Gospel not simply our opinions or feelings in the moment. 
In today's conversation we'll look at video games versus some of the other favorite entertainment tech options (social media, shows, music), and remind ourselves what the Gospel says about our gaming. 
Then we'll walk through how we can help ensure gaming stays a benefit, not a distraction, to God's purpose for them.
Finally we'll address what to do if and when gaming gets out of control—how to spot it and how to lovingly intervene.

What gets you out of bed every morning? There is a difference between making through today, and living with the legacy God has given us. Legacy is a word fraught with the middle school trauma of poorly-executed motivational speeches. We have come to think of legacy as the influence we have on the world after we're gone, but is that what the Bible tells us? Today we're going to discuss how legacy is less about what or who we become, and more about being who God has made us in Christ.  It isn't about carpe-ing the diem or achieving some scrap of success. It's about living in light of a greater hope, looking to those who have lived long, and not so long, yet reflect the hope available to each of us today through God's saving work in Christ Jesus.

Healthy tech doesn't have to be elusive or overwhelming. In fact, it can be practical, accessible, and something you can begin to live out today. With our foundation in the Gospel we have a basis for truth, and therefore reality. Now we just need a practical way to live it out. Today we'll discuss the #1 thing every family can do to begin healthy tech at home, as well as a couple bonus ideas for connecting the Gospel to our tech in practical ways.

We’ve all seen it: someone we know uses a screen and comes away distracted, moody, forgetful, or just a little bit off: broken commitments, dropping friends, change in attitude, low energy or motivation.
At some point we’ve probably all been that annoying tech-user.
But what is that screen actually doing? Is it rotting our brain? Is that screen really responsible, or is it just a personal issue?
Today we’re going to put this question to rest and point back to what Jesus invites us to have in the Gospel.

Healthy tech takes work. It requires we remove the unhealthy and replace it with _________, what? Alternatives seem daunting when we're talking about replacing some of our favorite unhealthy tech outlets. 
Today we discuss how we can intentionally select activities that are high-interest, build healthy habits, and are accessible for this stage and time of life. In the process we can ensure we use only the tech that helps us better love God, and remove everything else.

It's important to understand what we mean when we say "tech". Is it anything that plugs into a wall? Anything with a screen? Our answer will determine how we understand healthy tech boundaries as well as how we can best connect the Gospel to our daily tech use. Today we'll talk about how there are actually two types of tech which are quite distinct when it comes to healthful tech use.

Safe tech is about more than simply having good rules. We need to get beyond good guidelines and talk about the basis of making our homes safe from the inside out. In today's conversation we set the basis for our conversation in the Gospel, showing how Jesus clearly addresses how our hearts should interact with tech (and how we can know if we're doing it wrong), and then build from there to point our hearts, and those of our family, to the Good News that God saves sinners. The goal of all of this is to use our tech well, and love God more.

We hear lots of scary stuff about tech:

unhealthy screen time
addiction to tech
dopamine triggers
increasing depression and anxiety
lurking bullies and stranger danger

So how do we know if our child's tech use is healthy? It's actually quite simple. But knowing tech health is easy, and almost useless. We need to have a larger conversation that includes tech health, equips us to focus on the hope of the Gospel, and allows us to take action in both healthy and unhealthy tech realities.