Hey friends!
So grateful for all the people creating incredible digital parenting resources, products, and content to hold my hand on the digital parenting journey…so much new stuff since I started thinking about buying a smartphone for my oldest daughter six years ago. Here are some of my favorite digital parenting resources as I navigate the throws of digital parenthood! (Not being paid by any of these companies—just sharing because I’m grateful.)
xo, kb
Digital Parenting Resources
MARCO POLO
Belongs in the “Organic Aisle“ of social media. No data-collection, no ads, no AI = meaningful, back-and-forth “tennis match” connections. Have LOVED introducing this to my teenagers and developing a “digital family room“ with them...and I‘ve noticed the more we use this app, the less we crave other, less healthy social media interactions.
LECTIO 365
Front and center on my homescreen. I’ve tried a lot of online devotionals and Bible reading programs...but the design of this one (not to mention the narrator’s British dialect) FORCES me to slow down and be present to the Lord. It’s like having crumpets with Jesus at the spa. This is technology at its best, making it a great digital parenting resource.
THE BULLETIN
As social media has become Gen Z‘s primary news source, it can be hard to help our kids filter current events through a truth-seeking, balanced lens . This podcast helps me make sense of a world in chaos. Super excited about their new mini-series Promised Land, which explores the moral, spiritual, and political challenges presented by the Israel-Hamas war.
GIRL MOM
With so many challenges facing today‘s teens, it‘s easy to retreat into tunnel vision, ruminating on one issue. (For me, it‘s smartphones and social media.) Kari has a way of pulling me out of the weeds and helping me see the big picture of my kids‘ hearts. Her wisdom has helped me navigate friendship shifts, dating and college transitions with my girls...and she has some great stuff for guys as well.
ARO
This phone charging station sits on our kitchen counter, encouraging us all to put down our phones and recharge. There's an app that connects to the Aro Home device, measures the time you spend away from your phone, reminds you to take breaks from your phone, and shows you data to improve your phone habits.
PINWHEEL
Honestly, it’s a tie between Gabb and Pinwheel phones - gimme all the “first phones.” But I especially love Pinwheel’s App Store. They’ve done the research on which apps might raise concerns and why, making it easy to decide which ones to say yes to. No social media apps, addictive games, or ad-driven apps makes this a great digital parenting resource for delaying social media.
Author Krista Boan
Krista Boan is the co-founder of the international nonprofit Screen Sanity , host of the Screen Sanity podcast and a former middle school teacher. Her current work is developing simple social media mentorship resources for tweens, which she shares through the Social Compass newsletter. Krista has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, NBC with Diane Sawyer, the New York Times and Christianity Today. She lives in Kansas City with her husband and four t(w)eens.
Social media training wheels... straight to your inbox.
The Road to Social newsletter equips parents and kids to cross the bridge into the social media world with intention and integrity.
By subscribing, you will receive a special link to your selected Free Resources. We hope these engaging tools make digital discipleship simple for your family.
ABOUT ROAD TO SOCIAL:
EXPERT GUIDED. We offer calm, grounded, and uplifting information reviewed by physicians, therapists and researchers.
GIRL APPROVED. Our insights are created for girls approaching the social media years to give them a hopeful path through the hazardous online world.
FAITH BASED. Our simple digital discipleship resources start and end with the beauty of God's social design.