SOS! The Technology Guidebook for Parents of Tweens and Teens: Get the Answers You Need, Keep Them Safe and Enjoy Your Kids Again

Parenting educator/Moms of Tweens and Teens founder Gould discusses setting limits on kids’ use of technology. Multiple quandaries surround the topic: whether or not to read children’s texts, at what age to introduce phones, which screen-time limits are appropriate, and how to respond if a child pushes back on the boundaries. This book addresses FaceTime, Fortnite, pornography, cyberbullying, and more. With nearly 50 percent of teens recognizing an addiction to their devices, along with unprecedented rates of depression and teen suicide, this book demonstrates why these problems must be explored. For parents of gamers, the book urges them to be a mentor by agreeing to a contract with their child, setting ground rules, and clearly communicating their values. This text provides conversation starters in the form of questions that parents can reflect on and then ask their child. The author encourages parents to make time to connect and to know their child’s unique strengths and areas to improve. Includes an evaluation of the best apps, blockers, and filters, plus a list of recommended resources and websites.