How can we disciple a tech-addicted generation?

That is the question driving Parents Who Fight. This organization has been helping parents, schools, and churches partner together to protect kids from the influence of technology. My church hosted Jesse and Sarah Siegand for the last 2 Wednesday evenings. They made their overwhelming point that it is time for the church to take a stand. I highly recommend them: parentswhofight.com.

They had a table of recommended books so I immediately purchased some of the following:

Raising Spiritual Champions by Barna

Smart Girls Stupid World by Sarah Seigand

Reconnected by Carolos Whittaker

The Anxious Generaton by Jonathan Haidt (expensive shipping)

Time to Talk to Your Kids about Porn: A Parents Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity by Greta Eskridge (Released 3/4/25)

They have more books listed on their website: Books | Parents Who Fight.

Our nextgen ministries (preschool, children, youth) are putting together a strategy based on the ideas presented during the second session. I immediately talked with each of our ministers about letting the Enrichment Center partner with them in their strategy. I had 4 of the recommended books in our main display by the second Wednesday evening.

Are any of your churches using a set of actions to protect children from the influence of technology?

This is helpful information. I particularly liked the tech tools page on parentswhofight.com. One of the things that has stayed with me was some research I read while completing my MLIS. This was over a decade ago, mind you, but at that time there were studies being done about how college students were struggling to read longform books. Even journal articles were a stretch. The research suggested that short tweets and scrolling was actually re-training the brain's ability to focus, and attention spans were shortening. The obvious dangers of web content aside, I have always felt that one of the best gifts I can give my children is a screen-free childhood. Daydreaming, imagining, boredome...all of these are vital to brain health. Not to mention that boredom often boosts creativity, reading expands vocabulary (and imagination), and the ability to be present with people and nature is one of God's greatest common grace gifts.

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Lydia Neeley May 11, 2025 18:45

This is helpful information. I particularly liked the tech tools page on parentswhofight.com. One of the things that has stayed with me was some research I read while completing my MLIS. This was over a decade ago, mind you, but at that time there were studies being done about how college students were struggling to read longform books. Even journal articles were a stretch. The research suggested that short tweets and scrolling was actually re-training the brain's ability to focus, and attention spans were shortening. The obvious dangers of web content aside, I have always felt that one of the best gifts I can give my children is a screen-free childhood. Daydreaming, imagining, boredome...all of these are vital to brain health. Not to mention that boredom often boosts creativity, reading expands vocabulary (and imagination), and the ability to be present with people and nature is one of God's greatest common grace gifts.

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