Technology Wants to Take Over Reading
How important is reading in an age of online media? Are literary skills still valuable now that we have AI? Shouldn’t children learn to use technology to access information instead of books? The arguments made against reading beyond basic literacy generally stem from technological optimism: Videos, images, and voice interfaces (AI) are the dominant way […]
The Lie That Your Child Needs a Screen to Read
Does everything have to be *fun* for kids to want to learn? What is lost when learning to read is just another game on a screen? Open up the App Store or Google Play and search for reading apps. Scroll through and you’ll see flashy promises from AI-powered reading apps like Readability and Duolingo’s ABC […]
How Parents Can Fight FOR Reading (& Against Screens)
Are children capable of fighting the temptation of the screen in order to read? If you want your child to read, however, gatekeeping screens is only half the battle. Screen media is a serious temptation for kids (and parents to allow). We know this. But we also know that reading is a beneficial and critical […]
Not All Reading is Created Equal: Paper Books, eReaders, and Reading Apps Compared
Is any reading better than no reading? Reading is always good, but how children read matters greatly. Reading isn’t only about ingesting a story but also about forming character, focus, and thought. There are compelling reasons to reject technological optimism that promotes reading on digital devices rather than paper books. Nevertheless, because many options exist […]
Entertained by the Bible: A Review of Christian and Faith-Based Streaming Services
As streaming television became the standard mode of entertainment, Christian media organizations stepped up to offer faith-based alternatives to the popular secular options. If these faithful brothers and sisters did not endeavor to bring Christian, bible-based media to the mainstream, we’d all be left with garbage entertainment like Sponge Bob. As much as we appreciate […]
Social @ 16
American Surgeon General Vivek Murthy gave this statement while discussing the “loneliness epidemic” on CNN: “I, personally, based on the data I’ve seen, believe that 13 is too early … It’s a time where it’s really important for us to be thoughtful about what’s going into how they think about their own self-worth and their […]
Video Games Are Not The Same
There is a reason so many of us hesitate to draw hard lines around video games in our homes. We remember the joy of our childhood games of stacking falling blocks in Tetris, chomping ghosts in Pac-Man, bouncing on Bowser’s head in Super Mario Bros., or maybe even crushing it in Wii Tennis. It was […]
Parents Have an iPad Problem
There is no denying that modern technologies make life more convenient for parents. Apps allow parents to buy with next-day delivery, schedule a doctor’s appointment, and order groceries. But let’s be real: convenient parenting does not always mean better parenting. The convenience of iPads (and your smartphone) has led to their use as pacifiers and […]
Brave Parenting Guide to Minecraft
Maybe you’ve heard of a video game called Minecraft. It’s a sandbox (open-ended) game where players can explore and create freely without set goals. Originally released in 2009, Microsoft (Xbox) purchased the game for $2.5 billion in 2014. It boasts around 200 million active monthly players, and its mobile app version generated $43.14 million in […]
The Scientific Reasons to Delay iPads
Handing a young child a tablet for entertainment is so effective that you might think it’s harmless. Science paints a different picture, however. More and more research confirms that early and frequent screen use can hinder a child’s development in many measurable ways. From speech delays and lack of focus to irritability and disrupted sleep, […]
The Spiritual Reasons to Delay iPads
The conversation around screen time for kids often focuses on brain development, sleep quality, and academic performance. But for Christian parents, there is a deeper and more eternal concern: the state of our children’s hearts. Technology is not morally neutral—it shapes how children see the world, themselves, and even God. If our goal is to […]
Brave Parenting Guide to Meditation Apps
Meditation and prayer apps have exploded in popularity. Are they all the same? Are they biblical? Here’s what Christian parents need to know.
Brave Parenting Guide to Telegram
Telegram is a free messaging app. Its aesthetic is playful and juvenile – does that mean its safe for kids? Our guide explains it all.
How Your Church Can Take a Biblical Approach to Media & Technology
Online media and technologies are shaping the minds and hearts of people both inside and outside the church. If the church is called to be “set apart,” we must approach media and technology not with passivity or imitation but with wisdom, intentionality, and biblical conviction. Churches today have a unique opportunity and responsibility to model […]
Adding Friction to Your Phone: Realigning Your Smartphone Habits
Adding friction to your smartphone is biblically beneficial and constructive.
Brave Parenting Guide to Chick-fil-A Play
Chick-fil-A is now in the entertainment business. As a brand, they are creating original content in shows, games, music, and podcasts and showcasing it in their new app, Chick-fil-A Play. The chicken-loving world has some questions: Do we need another gaming/entertainment app? Does Chik-fil-A’s entertainment hold up to the faith-filled and family-driven values the restaurant […]
Brave Parenting Guide to Character.ai
Character.ai is a platform designed for role-playing conversations with chatbots simulating a large variety of characters. According to 2024 analytics: the platform has more than 20 million users 60% of users are between the age of 18-24. (No data for those under 18?) Users spend an average of 2 hours/day on the platform the platform’s […]
Peace Amidst Political Chaos: Less Media More Scripture
The cultural moment of political chaos and 24/7 news has left parents anxious, angry, and fearful. There’s one way to find peace: start with Scripture.
Brave Parenting Guide to Gauth (AI Study Companion)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and learning have a tumultuous relationship, to say the least. AI makes learning so easy…or does it? Is there actual learning occurring on an AI study app like Gauth? Or is it simply doing the work for you? When it comes to kids, AI and learning can hardly compete. Kids will inevitably […]
Brave Parenting Guide to Minno – Kids Bible Videos
Minno is a streaming platform for Bible and faith-based children’s entertainment. Minno’s website claims they are “the leading voice around the globe for using media to spark kids’ imaginations and curiosity around God and the Bible.” With so much of a child’s life already supplemented (and supplanted) by a screen, is a Bible-based entertainment platform […]
Brave Parenting Guide to Old School Summers
Screens have desecrated one of the most cherished parts of childhood: summer. As some of the last parents who grew up with an analog summer, we believe it is important to keep the screen-free spirit alive today by implementing ‘Old School Summer’ activities. Now, why do you need a guide for this? Because screens are […]