We know how time-consuming and tiresome it can be to research the growing market of first phones out there and make a decision. To ease some of that stress, we’ve compiled information on smartphone alternatives we know and love.

What kind of role do you see technology playing in your child’s future? The NEW Elementary School Plugged-in Planner provides tools to be proactive in creating a roadmap for managing screentime struggles while also providing practical tips you can implement in your family now.

We are some of the most powerful voices in our children’s lives, and we can help them discern what is accurate information versus misinformation or disinformation. Here are a few tips you can offer when coaching your kiddo on media literacy.

The majority of teens have watched pornography online, some having seen it by age 10 or younger. We are our children’s greatest defenders against the hazards of the online world, and it’s never too early (or too late) to safeguard their online environment.

It’s that time of year when the weather is changing, holiday decor is appearing on the shelves and gift-giving may be on the mind. Along with connection, cheer and cups of cocoa, this season can also bring about lengthy shopping lists and overwhelming decisions. If whether or not to buy your child a smartphone is one of those choices, you are not alone!

Kids are always paying attention, absorbing the behaviors they see modeled in the world. Monkey see? Monkey do. They are internalizing our habits, practices and beliefs through our behaviors — including what we do and don’t post on social media (aka. sharenting).

With today’s smartphones, kids have the world at their fingertips, but they also have the weight of the world on their shoulders. The truth is smartphones can lead to unsafe people and places, so it’s important to consider how you plan to protect them from ending up somewhere on the internet they never intended to be.

Our FREE Babysitter Guide is a helpful tool for quickly and easily sharing important information with your caregivers, including phone numbers, activity ideas and your family’s unique tech and screentime boundaries. Print it out, fill in your information and use it as a conversation starter the next time your babysitter or family cares for your kids.

While it can be so tempting to use screens as the solution, what if we were more intentional with our technology use this summer? What if instead of a platform of consumption, it were one of sparking creation? What if instead of a problem, it were a partner?

If you feel like video games aren’t what they used to be, you’re right. The days of Pac-Man and Atari are long gone, replaced with virtual reality headsets and hyper-realistic war zones.