About this episode

The episode explores whether smartphone use helps kids develop essential digital skills and examines the balance between skill mastery and spiritual growth.

Recent Barna research revealed that teens spend an average of 4.8 hours a day on social media. In this time, are they learning critical digital skills essential for success in life? When kids play games on iPads or watch YouTube videos, are they learning essential skills? In today’s episode, Kelly continues the examination of Peter’s Gray list of benefits for kids’ smartphone ownership: Developing Digital Skills. What exactly are digital skills? Are they learned by swiping, tapping, and watching? And most importantly, what is God’s purpose for childhood – is it to master skills or to grow in wisdom and faith? From a pragmatic standpoint, this benefit seems legit. From a biblical standpoint, digital skills look a whole lot like digital devotion. Articles referenced: Helping Kids (and Ourselves) Use Smartphones Safely Scripture referenced: Genesis 2:15 Deuteronomy 6:6-7 Proverbs 22:6 Proverbs 2:1-8 Exodus 35:10, 26, 30-35 Acts 4 Romans 11:36 Colossians 3:23 Matthew 25:14-30 JUST RELEASED: The Managing Media Creating Character STUDENT Study Guide ! An 8-week biblical study examining how character is impacted by media and technology. The study can be…

People in this episode

Host: Kelly

Topics covered

• digital skills
• smartphone ownership
• parenting
• faith
• media impact

Keywords

• digital skills
• smartphones
• parenting
• media
• faith
• Barna research
• character development

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Barna

Products: Pinwheel

Books & works: Helping Kids (and Ourselves) Use Smartphones Safely, The Managing Media Creating Character STUDENT Study Guide

Places: Genesis, Deuteronomy, Proverbs, Exodus, Acts, Romans, Colossians, Matthew

More episodes of Brave Parenting

• Ep. 225: A Biblical Framework for AI & Children · June 10, 2026 · 36 min
• The Enhanced Games & Becoming ‘Superhuman’ · June 8, 2026 · 8 min
• Ep. 224: Is “Being Trusted” a Benefit of Smartphones for Kids? · June 3, 2026 · 34 min
• Discipleship Has No Summer Break · May 25, 2026 · 9 min
• Ep. 222: Is Connecting with Peers a Benefit of Smartphones for Kids? · May 20, 2026 · 38 min
• Ep. 221: Is Amusement a Benefit of Smartphones for Kids? · May 13, 2026 · 29 min

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