This post contains affiliate links that help support Unplugged Family. Are you tempted to buy your child a smartphone? Maybe you’ve been hesitating because of all the dangers that even big tech has begun to admit publicly. Unplugged Family has been a pioneer in the exposure and education of many of those dangers. Coach Madlin…
parenting
How Social Media and Screens Changed the Way We Parent
A new decade dawned and life seemed almost perfect. It was the year 2000 and my husband, Jon, and I were enjoying life in our dream home. I was in my fifth year of homeschooling our daughters while my husband was happily employed. Together, Jon and I enjoyed mentoring and teaching couples how to be…
Hold Out As Long As You Can
Are you a digital immigrant raising digital natives? How is it going? (You’re thinking of giving a chipper, positive reply, aren’t you?) I want your honest answer. How’s it really going? For most of us, the answer is more along the lines of “Houston, we have a problem. A big one.” Deep in our hearts,…
An Inside Look at My Family’s Technology Guidelines
We all desire peace, especially in our home. Technology is often a source of contention in many households, including mine. Let’s face it, today we are barraged 24/7 by media exposure. From smartphones to social media, to streaming music, books, magazines, TV shows, computer games, and apps – all vying for our attention. If, as…
How to Protect Your Family’s Sleep
We’d had the argument at least a hundred nights before. It was the same conversation, the same struggle, and it would be, ultimately, the same outcome. If I had to explain to my child one more time why he couldn’t keep the tablet in his room at night – even if he promised he wouldn’t…
Does Summer Equal More Screen Time?
The weatherman was forecasting another rainy, July day and my daughter and I were locked in a battle of wills. She was desperately trying to get me to cave on the decision to have a screen-free day and I was trying equally as hard to stay strong. It would have been so easy to give…