What if your phone truly helped you connect with people more than disconnect with those around you? You CAN dare to be relationally different in a screen-to-screen culture. But. . .honestly, I like my phone. So what should I do? You probably enjoy screens but don’t want them hurting your relationships with the people who matter most, right? What if you could improve your face-to-face relationships, develop deeper connections, resolve conflict, and confidently communicate with friends, parents, teachers, roommates, coworkers, potential employers…even the barista at your local coffee shop? What if you paused to think before you posted, avoiding some of the hurt and consequences that almost always lead to regret after? What if you became a master of your own screen-time instead of letting it master you? What if you became more screen-wise? 40 real-life realizations including. . . * Your phone doesn’t have an UNSEND button. *Texting is a dumb way to manage conflict. * We all need a digital detox every once in a while. * Sometimes less is more. * Phones are a great tool for connecting with people outside of the room when they don’t interfere with the people inside the room * Sometimes the people we love the most are the people we ignored all day. Author and youth culture expert, Jonathan McKee, and his daughter Alyssa McKee, uncover forty random realizations they’ve discovered over the last five years. Screens provide fun platforms to connect with faraway friends; and sometimes the people we love the most are the people we ignore all day. Jonathan and Alyssa help young adults navigate face-to-face communication in a screen-to-screen world too! Maybe they’ll help you navigate face-to-face communication in a screen-to-screen world too!
"In an age where teenagers are deeply engaged in virtual communities and social networks, they’re still feeling alone and isolated. It may sound all too simple, but the truth is that you have the opportunity to make a profound impact on the lives of students with the simple act of spending time with them, one-on-one. Whether you’re a volunteer or the lead youth pastor, getting some students to open up and share their lives can be a challenge. In this practical book you’ll learn the importance of connecting with students on an individual basis and get helpful ideas on how to engage a variety of students in meaningful dialogue. You’ll explore and learn more about connecting with six different types of students, including: • The “No Way” Kid • The “Not Interested” Kid • The “Checking Things Out Kid” • The “Stagnant” Kid • The “Growing” Kid • The “Looking for Ministry” Kid Connect will walk you through the steps to lead you into relationships with students that go beyond the youth room and impact them into adulthood."
Ever regret something you’ve posted? Honestly? How smart are you being when it comes to streaming, messaging, gaming, commenting. . .? The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices will help you navigate the digital world with 21 refreshingly honest and humorous tips that will not only inform, but that also just might change the way you think about your social media interaction. 21 real-life tips including. . . Know the app before you snap. Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want Grandma, your boss, and Jesus seeing! (Jesus is on Insta, you know!) Peek at your privacy settings. . .so you know who’s peeking at you. Take more “selflessies.” Press pause before you post. . . .and many more will provide just the information you need to post wisely in an insecure world.
What Every Parent Needs to Know about Screens and Their Kids Maybe your kids are like many others―glued to their smartphones, social media, and streaming entertainment. While we may be aware that excessive screen time, especially social media, isn’t healthy, how do we teach young kids and teens to become screenwise? Prioritizing connection over correction, Parenting Generation Screen is a guide for parents that will equip you with key questions and conversations to help you process screen limits with and for your kids. You’ll learn how to dialogue in meaningful ways about social media, entertainment, and screen time so your children can learn to be wise in the digital world. Jonathan McKee speaks worldwide and writes about technology and social media for families―and has three kids of his own. In Parenting Generation Screen, he addresses such questions as: At what age should my child get a phone or screen?Can my child have a phone in their bedroom?How does social media affect my teenager’s mental health and sleep?What dangers are really lurking on social media?How can moms and dads best use parental controls? In this extremely practical book, you’ll gain confidence and find the answers you need to set boundaries, guide your kids, and help them navigate the digital landscape.
If you feel like you’re losing your teen to technology, you’re not alone. Screen time is rapidly replacing family time, and for teens especially, it is hardwiring the way they connect with their world. In Screens and Teens, Dr. Kathy helps you make sense of all this and empowers you to respond. She: Exposes the lies that technology can teach your teen Guides you in countering those lies with biblical truths and helpful practices Shares success stories of families who have cut back on technology and prioritized each other Kathy’s research, experience, and relatability all come together for an inspiring book, sure to help you be closer with your kids. "Dr. Kathy continues to inform and inspire me with Screens and Teens. I feel better equipped to parent my kids in our constantly changing world because of her wisdom. Dr. Kathy’s expertise makes her my "go-to" person when I have questions about technology and the way it affects our family. Whether you have kids or not, this book will make you more aware of the tech-driven world we live in and encourage you to make bold, smart choices." -Kirk Cameron, Actor/Producer Grab a pen and get ready to underline, circle, and write "That’s so us!" in the margins. Be equipped to keep your family connected. BONUS: Every book includes an access code to stream or download a powerful 9-session video series (valued at $20) for FREE! In these videos, Dr. Kathy presents eye-opening insights to help you connect with your teen in a whole new way. Designed to be watched prior to reading each chapter, they will help you to engage the book on a deeper level.
Honestly?. . . "Why wait for something when I can enjoy it now?" “These images don’t really affect me. . .do they?” "How could smoking a little weed really be that bad when it's becoming legalized everywhere?” “I’d like to tell you I don’t care what others think, but honestly, I want to be liked." Maybe you're thinking, "I've had one. . .maybe even a few of these thoughts, and I don't know how to even begin to deal with them." The good news? You're not alone. And there is a way to fight these battles head-on, overcoming the past, pressing forward, and becoming the person God designed you to be. So what's a guy to do? . . . Join youth culture expert and author of the popular Guy's Guide to God, Girls, and the Phone in Your Pocket, Jonathan McKee, as he gets real about the four common battles every young man will encounter in his life: 1: Sexual Temptation 2. Screens 3: Controlled Substances 4: Self-Esteem With humor and honesty, McKee offers up practical, spiritual advice filled with real-world application helping you face today’s distractions.
How teens navigate a networked world and how adults can support them. What are teens actually doing on their smartphones? Contrary to many adults’ assumptions, they are not simply “addicted” to their screens, oblivious to the afterlife of what they post, or missing out on personal connection. They are just trying to navigate a networked world. In Behind Their Screens, Emily Weinstein and Carrie James, Harvard researchers who are experts on teens and technology, explore the complexities that teens face in their digital lives, and suggest that many adult efforts to help—“Get off your phone!” “Just don’t sext!”—fall short. Weinstein and James warn against a single-minded focus by adults on “screen time.” Teens worry about dependence on their devices, but disconnecting means being out of the loop socially, with absence perceived as rudeness or even a failure to be there for a struggling friend. Drawing on a multiyear project that surveyed more than 3,500 teens, the authors explain that young people need empathy, not exasperated eye-rolling. Adults should understand the complicated nature of teens’ online life rather than issue commands, and they should normalize—let teens know that their challenges are shared by others—without minimizing or dismissing. Along the way, Weinstein and James describe different kinds of sexting and explain such phenomena as watermarking nudes, comparison quicksand, digital pacifiers, and collecting receipts. Behind Their Screens offers essential reading for any adult who cares about supporting teens in an online world.
Are you and your favorite teenager having too many conversations like this? "How was school?" "Fine." "Soccer practice?" "Same as always." "Anything interesting happen today?" "Nope." "Nice talking with you!" Let's face it. Teenagers have a PhD in one-word answers . . . if we don't ask the right questions. In this book, veteran youth expert Jonathan McKee shares 180 creative discussion starters to help teens open up about issues that matter. You'll also find tips for interpreting their responses and follow-up questions. From light-hearted to more serious, these conversation springboards will encourage even the most reluctant teen to talk about friends, school, values, struggles, and much more. "The perfect tool for connecting with today's teenagers." --Dr. Kevin Leman, author of Have a New Teenager by Friday "Few people understand the teenage world like Jonathan McKee. This book is one of the most helpful and practical tools I have ever seen to get teenagers talking with their parents about important topics."--Jim Burns, PhD, author of Teenology: The Art of Raising Great Teenagers and Confident Parenting
The Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide for Teenagers isn't a normal book. It's not even a normal Zombie survival guide. It's a story of three teenagers enduring and surviving against the odds, adapting where many adults failed. Not many teenagers survived "The Havoc," probably because most didn't acclimate and learn like these three.So what's the secret to their survival?Good question. The answer lies in these pages, a journal written by a teenager named Chris.Each section includes some discussion questions to help you digest what you just read. These questions will point to the Bible here and there for some wisdom that has stood the test of time: wisdom for surviving your real world.
Have Real Conversations With Your Kids About Sex The old ways of having the "sex talk" just won't cut it anymore. Sadly, the number one place today's young people go to for answers about sex is Google. Meanwhile, kids view nearly 14,000 sexual references a year on television, and 70 percent of teenagers have encountered pornography on the Internet. If we want our children to know the truth about healthy sexuality, we need to create a comfortable climate of continual conversations. Jonathan McKee will show you how to move beyond the initial awkwardness of this subject into an ongoing communication with your kids about God's amazing gift of sex. He equips you with what you need to talk openly about dating, temptation, porn, and purity, and you will find answers to tough questions and relevant Scripture on sexual issues. It's normal for kids to be curious about sexuality, and they need to know that their parents are the most reliable source of information. Be the one your kids turn to on this crucial topic. "In a world full of explicit lies, today's kids need parents who aren't afraid to tell them the explicit truth. This book provides parents with the tools they need to have these candid and continual conversations."--Dr. Kevin Leman, New York Times bestselling author of Have a Happy Family by Friday "Jonathan McKee is one of America's premier youth specialists, and this book will help you navigate the rough waters of teaching your kids healthy sexuality."--Jim Burns, PhD, president, HomeWord and author "Parents, take a deep breath. This book pulls no punches. But it will give you exactly what you need to walk alongside your kids at this time when they most need it."--Shaunti Feldhahn, social researcher, speaker, and bestselling author "A thorough, straightforward, and engaging resource that will both equip and inform a parent for effective, culturally relevant, and God-honoring conversations about sexuality and all its implications. It is a critical read in critical times."--Brian Berry, generation ministries pastor, Journey Community Church, La Mesa, California; and author "SO many parents I know don't feel equipped to talk to their kids about sex. This book helps you overcome the (guaranteed) awkwardness of conversations like that, and provides both tools AND motivation. I wish every parent would read it."--Scott Rubin, director of middle school ministry, Willow Creek Community Church "Jonathan McKee provides clarity and practical knowledge so that you and I can do more than just give a nervous 'talk' to our kids; we can be loving and consistent parents for them as well."--Terry Linhart, PhD, educator, author, Bethel College--Indiana "Kids need parents who are educated, aware, and relevant when it comes to sex. Thankfully, Jonathan McKee gives us powerful, poignant, and practical tools to help us win in this delicate and scary parenting arena."--Doug Fields, co-founder of DownloadYouthMinistry.com, youth pastor for thirty years at Saddleback & Mariners Church, speaker, and author "McKee is a frontline youth worker with current and regular interactions with Christian teenagers wrestling with the intersection of their faith and their sexuality. Never condescending, Jon brings his writing style to a subject I wish more parents were talking about with their teens."--Mark Oestreicher, partner, The Youth Cartel and author "Jonathan McKee's book helps us to remember that 'the talk' is a myth at best, and a terrible strategy at worst. A lifestyle of preparation, a strategic series of discussions, and a proactive commitment to conversation is what our kids need, and this book will help any parent to walk with their kids in confidence."--Chap Clark, professor of youth, family, and culture, Fuller Theological Seminary
