The Bible tells us to guard our hearts. As parents, we help our kids do just that by teaching them healthy digital habits.
Teach your children habits like prioritizing Jesus over tech, practicing discernment and speaking up when something feels wrong.
To protect your children in this digital world, ask frequent questions about their tech use, teach them the risks and put safeguards into place, like parental controls.
Ping. Ding. Tap. Tap. Tap. “Mom, can I play on your phone?” Buzz. Ring. Tap. Ping. Ding. “Dad, can I watch a video?”
This digital world we live in is noisy — and it’s fighting for your kids’ attention. It’s true that phones, computers and tablets are here to stay. But as Christian parents, we’re called to teach our kids healthy digital habits that protect their hearts and keep their eyes on Jesus.
The Importance of Shepherding Your Kids Through the Endless Screens
My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. — Proverbs 4:20-25, NIV
God’s Word is clear: We must be careful with what we let in. What we listen to, read and watch impacts our thoughts, beliefs, emotions and actions.
What we consume will either keep our hearts close to God or pull us away.
Today, the good and the bad are at our fingertips and easy to scroll through, tap on and consume. Everywhere our children look, there’s a screen — on our walls, in our hands, on the restaurant table and even in school.
A recent survey found that young children (ages 2-4) average about 2 hours of media use a day, while kids ages 5-8 average over 3 hours. By ages 8-12, that number jumps to more than 5 hours daily, mostly spent on TV, online games and social media.
Every day, our kids are met with endless opportunities to listen to, read and watch things that will pull them away from Jesus. And as parents, it’s our job to teach them how to guard their hearts, shepherding them toward their Savior.
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. — Proverbs 22:6, NIV
5 Digital Habits to Teach Your Children
Showing children how to guard their hearts requires teaching them how to use tech safely and in ways that honor the Father. Below, we dive into five key digital habits and simple ways to put them into practice within your home.
1. Set Clear Boundaries
You can think about boundaries this way: They’re like guardrails at the top of a steep cliff that prevent you from falling. Clear digital boundaries do the same, protecting your little ones from harm as they scroll, watch and play.
While tech isn’t inherently bad, too much of any good thing can be. For example, excessive use of technology has been linked to mental health concerns like anxiety and depression, as well as issues with sleep, concentration and even reading ability.
Boundaries around how, when and where tech is used help protect children from these impacts, while making room for important things like spending time together, using their imaginations in play and growing in their relationship with Jesus.
Put It Into Practice: Start with some simple boundaries. For example, limit your child’s screen time to a certain amount each day. Clearly communicate what content shouldn’t be consumed and what apps/websites they should avoid. You can also create “screen-free zones.” For example, maybe there are no screens at the kitchen table during dinner or when alone in bedrooms.
2. Start and End With Jesus
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. — Colossians 3:1-2, NIV
What’s the last thing you do before falling asleep? What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? For many of us, we see an image of ourselves scrolling on our phones.
But what would happen if we set our hearts on Jesus before we ever stepped out of bed or turned off the lights? We’d have more peace, joy and hope while growing closer to the source of it all.
It’s critical that we set our hearts on Jesus and teach our kids to do the same. We must put him before our tech. Otherwise, we risk allowing it to become a stumbling block in our walk with our Savior.
Put It Into Practice: Start a new routine with your children that helps you set (and reset) your hearts on him. For example, in the morning, read a devotional and pray, asking Jesus to help you keep him at the center. At night, read Scripture together and pray, thanking him for his faithfulness throughout the day.
3. Speak Up
What should your child do if they see content they shouldn’t, receive a message from a stranger or get a fishy text or email? They should come straight to you!
It’s important to teach your children, especially those using devices independently, to speak up when something feels wrong or scary. Not only can you then take the steps to protect them, but you can also teach them how to avoid these situations in the future.
Let them know that you love them and are here to listen, and you won’t be mad at anything they say. Teach them that you’re a safe space where they can talk about anything or ask questions.
Put It Into Practice: Frequently ask your child about their tech use. Who are they playing with? What shows have they enjoyed? Have they experienced anything scary or odd? Chats like these give your child room to share and show that you’re there to help.
4. Use Discernment
Discernment is our ability to determine what’s good or evil so we can make godly decisions. It’s powered by the Holy Spirit and wisdom that comes from understanding God’s Word. It’s a critical tool for all of us, including our children, and we must model what it looks like to use discernment when it comes to our digital habits.
How do we use it? By pausing. For example, before you turn on a flick for family movie night, pause. Consider whether the content highlights good or celebrates evil. Think about God’s Word and what he deems as good and worthy of consuming. Listen for the Holy Spirit to guide you.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. — Philippians 4:8, NIV
If you decide against the movie, discuss that decision with your children. Explain to them the importance of discernment and how it protects us from focusing on bad things that could hurt us.
Put It Into Practice: Discernment takes practice. A simple way to get your children thinking is to ask them this question: Does what you want to watch, listen to, read or play hurt or help your relationship with Jesus? Does it make you more caring and compassionate toward others or more selfish?
If it will hurt, it’s not a good choice. As your children practice making these decisions, they’ll grow in wisdom and discernment.
5. Focus on Real-World Experiences
We scroll through the highlight reels of celebrities’ weekend getaways. We like pictures of people playing with their cute pets. We watch videos of strangers cooking in their spotless kitchens.
But what about our precious weekends? Our adorable family dog? Our homey kitchens used to feed our families? The digital world can keep us from our own beautiful worlds that God has blessed us with. If we’re not careful, envy and comparison will set in, robbing us of our joy. And our children will follow our example of discontentment.
If we make time for real-world experiences daily, we learn to enjoy what God has given us. We’ll no longer need to doom scroll to feel something. Instead, we’ll find joy in what’s already around us, and our children will too.
Put It Into Practice: Every day, make it a point to put your phone down and enjoy something beyond the screen with your children. For example, do something together like reading a Bible story, going on a walk, cooking a meal or playing a board game.
3 Simple Ways to Safeguard Your Kids Today
Beyond teaching your kids to use technology wisely, here are steps you can take right now to help protect their hearts and their safety.
1. Teach Them the Risks
Take the time to teach your children the risks of tech. For example, discuss what cyberbullying looks like and the potential dangers of playing online games with strangers. Talk to them about what to do if someone contacts them and asks them for something. Make sure they know they should come to you.
Understanding the risks makes it easier for children to see and avoid activities that could hurt them.
2. Keep Your Eyes & Ears Open
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. — 1 Peter 5:8, NIV
As a parent, it’s important to stay alert by keeping your eyes and ears open. Listen to what your kids say and ask questions about their tech use. Check in on them when they’re watching TV. The more you know about your child’s digital habits, the easier it will be to step in when necessary.
3. Protect Their Eyes & Ears
Children, especially younger ones, don’t always know when content is good or bad. And sometimes, seemingly innocent content may not be. You can do your part to prevent your children’s eyes and ears from accessing what they shouldn’t by:
Using parental controls: Use the controls available to you on phones, browsers and in apps to block inappropriate content.
Checking ratings: Check ratings for movies and TV shows using services like Common Sense Media before allowing your children to watch them.
Keeping tech in common areas: Keep phones, tablets and computers in shared spaces to help you monitor activity.
Updating privacy settings: Make sure apps, games and websites have the highest privacy settings to help block inappropriate content and contact, while protecting your child’s personal information.
A Real-Life Example: Teaching Healthy Digital Habits to Children in Brazil
Technology is exploding everywhere. And caregivers just like you in countries around the world are having to learn how to shepherd their children in this digital world.
In Brazil, internet access and phone usage are booming, especially within impoverished households. Even in small villages, it’s not uncommon to enter a one-room home and see a smart TV instead of furniture.
Despite the risks, smart devices, especially phones, are becoming more necessary for daily life.
“Many families stop buying other daily necessities and invest their money in a phone … with the modernization of almost all public institutions, not having a cell phone is practically the same as not existing.” — Rafaela Nogueira, Compassion Brazil program manager
Children Are the Most Vulnerable to Digital Dangers
In these impoverished communities, limited resources make accessing secure networks, reliable devices and digital literacy programs difficult, increasing the risk of scams, misinformation and online exploitation. And children are the most vulnerable.
For example, children living in need often go without the essentials they need for survival, like safe water and food. They feel desperate, and often their parents are busy working to feed the family, not able to watch their children carefully or afford sending them to school.
This leaves these children exposed to those who would prey on their vulnerability, leading to harassment and abuse.
“All children with access to cell phones are vulnerable to the dangers of the internet. However, those who live in greater need and neglect are deprived of additional layers of protection.” — Rafaela Nogueira, Compassion Brazil program manager
Children also face the unrealistic standards they see as they scroll on social media. They’re exposed to influencers living lavish lifestyles they can’t experience themselves, harming their self-esteem and making them feel hopeless.
Many children begin to see themselves as ugly or worthless, worsening the trauma they’ve already experienced in poverty.
As children scroll and consume, they begin to distance themselves from others too. Instead of hanging out with friends, playing outside or learning something new, they turn to their devices, keeping them isolated. Sadly, studies show that social isolation can lead to anxiety and depression while slowing cognitive development.
Protecting Children Through the Local Church
The dangers technology can introduce to children living in poverty demand a response. That’s why Compassion works to raise awareness of these issues and protect children from harm.
For example, in Brazil, our local church partners teach children about the risks of tech use, such as cyberbullying, harassment and exploitation. This builds awareness and equips children with practical ways to stay safe.
They’re also building programs that encourage physical activity and connection with friends, combatting social isolation and helping children believe they belong.
“Here at our center, children know they can’t bring cell phones. If they do, we collect them and only return them at the end of the day. Children are very distracted by screens, and we want them to develop other skills while they’re here with us.” — Vânia, Compassion center director
To help children rise above the impossible standards they see as they scroll, local churches also do their part to ensure children feel cared for. They remind children who they are in God’s eyes: beautiful, adored, known and worthy of love.
“Here at our center, we sometimes have a self-care day. I remember a girl who always had her hair tied up because everyone said her curly hair was ugly. One day, we washed her hair, combed it and showed her how to care for her curls. Looking in the mirror, she said, ‘My hair looks so pretty! I didn’t know I was so pretty.’ We want each of them to feel known and loved.” — Vânia, Compassion center director
Technology isn’t going away, but neither is God’s call to shepherd children well, including those in countries around the world. As we teach the children entrusted to us healthy digital habits, we help them guard their hearts and keep their eyes focused on Jesus instead of their screens.
This tech-dominated world can be scary. You might feel overwhelmed and like you can’t do enough to keep your little ones safe. But God has equipped you specifically to raise your children here and now. In him, you have everything you need to guide, protect and love them. Be encouraged today — you’ve got this!