Tech-Smart Parenting - by Catherine Knibbs (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The essential new science-backed parenting guide to building healthy boundaries around technology and social media, from the leading cybertrauma expert and child psychotherapist, Catherine Knibbs.

'A must-read for the tech-anxious generation' Pete Etchells, psychologist and author of Unlocked: The Real Science of Screen Time

'An essential, expert (and overdue) guide for any parent worried about how tech is affecting their children, but wanting to rely on science instead of paranoia' - Dean Burnett, neuroscientist and author

Should we ban screens? We are asking the wrong question - this is how we really keep our kids safe online.

'How much screen time is too much?' 'Could my child become addicted to their smartphone?' 'Why does every rule I set start a battle?' Children today are growing up in a world more connected than ever before, exposing them to dangers their parents didn't even imagine and raising questions they've never considered. But in our rush to protect them, we can do more harm than good; outright bans and rules deemed 'unfair' can push your child away, when what they need most of all is you.

Child psychotherapist and cybertrauma expert Catherine Knibbs has helped hundreds of families work together to build healthy boundaries around technology. In this science-backed guide, Knibbs sets out what the evidence really says about the risks and where your fears may be misguided, to empower you with the answers to make the right decisions for your family. You'll discover:

• How screens affect every stage of childhood and where the dangers actually lie
• The importance of keeping your child close and onside to protect them, with scripts to help you communicate positively and set reasonable boundaries
• Realistic advice to keep your child safe and develop a balanced relationship with technology, within and out of the home
• Tips on protecting neurodivergent children and understanding how tech can help them flourish

Grounded in evidence and full of relatable stories and practical tools, Tech-Smart Parenting is the essential book for any parent who wants to feel informed and confident in navigating the new digital childhood.

Review Quotes

This is an essential book for any parent who wants to feel more informed and confident in navigating the new digital childhood. Grounded in evidence, relatable stories and practical tools, Tech-Smart Parenting offers a realistic yet reassuring approach to screens in what can often feel like an overwhelming environment that makes parents feel like they're failing. Knibbs cuts through the panic in the screen time debate with wisdom and warmth - a must-read for the tech-anxious generation.--Pete Etchells, author of Unlocked: The Real Science of Screen Time

Parents are rightfully confused about how their children should be interacting with social media, gaming and devices. Catherine Knibbs provides a much-needed and refreshingly balanced viewpoint in offering practical advice for technology use. Tech-Smart Parenting moves away from salacious fear-mongering about a lost generation, and instead offers an essential, clear-eyed view about the promises and perils of youth tech use and how parents can feel empowered and informed. Tech-Smart Parenting should be a go-to book for those looking for a pragmatic approach to parenting in the digital age.--David Ryan Polgar, Founder and President of All Tech is Human

An essential, expert (and overdue) guide for any parent worried about how tech is affecting their children, but wanting to rely on science instead of paranoia.--Dean Burnett, neuroscientist and author

About the Author

Catherine Knibbs is a child psychotherapist and cybertrauma expert who works with parents and children in therapy, in schools and other settings, and regularly teaches other therapists. She has written six academic books, delivered a TEDX talk and regularly speaks at major conferences. She is passionate about teaching parents how to navigate the ever-changing world of tech, which led to her setting up her Instagram (@catherine_knibbs) and TikTok (@cath_knibbs), with some videos amassing 3-6m views.