Pulling Kids Back to People: Rescuing Humanity from Technology
When kids grow up tethered to screens, AI, and social media, they learn to process people as ideas instead of image-bearers of God. They scroll, skim, swipe, and “like” without ever pausing to see the face, the heart, or the soul behind the content. And when people are reduced to pixels, it’s only a short slide into treating others as disposable opinions instead of sacred creations.
Why It Matters Right Now
Adolescence is a season where the brain is under construction. The prefrontal cortex, the part that weighs cause and effect, controls impulses, and makes wise decisions, is still forming. This is the God-designed window for learning self-control, resilience, and discernment. But when AI or instant tech gratification does the thinking for them, those neural pathways don’t get built.
As Dr. Kathy said in our podcast conversation:
“If our children aren’t able to play, wait, and figure out the way the world works, they’ll be stunted for sure. They’re not going to believe in their capability, and they’re not going to understand the reality of the way God designed order.”
Instead of maturing into thoughtful, relational young adults, kids risk feeling “stupid” or incapable. They bypass patience. They shortcut problem-solving. They believe the lie that they can’t think, so they stop trying. That’s devastating, because God made them brilliant, creative, and capable of shaping culture, not being enslaved by it, being trapped, and lashing out when they don’t like things in a violent way.
Where It Leads
When technology rewires how kids relate, they may grow skilled at interacting with devices but not with people. And that deficiency won’t stay hidden. It will affect friendships, marriages, jobs, and faith. Divorce rates rise when couples can’t read body language or communicate sincerely. Promotions are missed when collaboration feels impossible. Families fracture when someone feels unheard or unseen.
God designed us for connection, for family, friendship, community, and the church. AI can’t give your child the joy of a shared laugh across the dinner table, the courage of looking a teammate in the eyes, or the comfort of a hug when they fail. Technology can enhance creativity, yes, but it can never replace humanity.
What We Must Do
Parents, grandparents, teachers, this is our moment. If technology dehumanizes, then our calling is to rehumanize. When we put our phones down the moment our kids walk into the room, we’re declaring, “You are more important than this screen.” When we invite them outside to play, to climb rocks, or to just daydream in the grass, we’re saying, “God made you capable of exploring His world with courage.”
Paul in Acts 17 modeled this in Athens. Surrounded by idols and competing philosophies, he didn’t retreat into ideas; he engaged people. He honored their curiosity but redirected it toward the God who made them and gave them life. That’s our job, too. Not to shame kids for being drawn to tech, but to guide them toward the deeper truth: life, joy, and identity are found in Christ, not in a feed.
Practical Ways to Rise Above Tech with the 8 Smarts
Here are some practical ways you can use the 8 Great Smarts to help your kids reconnect with people and rise above tech:
Word Smart – Encourage kids to write letters or notes to friends and family instead of sending texts.
Logic Smart – Cook together and let them problem-solve measurements or substitutions. Show how patience and mistakes are part of real learning.
Picture Smart – Paint or sketch what they see outside. Notice how God’s design is more vivid than any filter.
Music Smart – Sing or play music together, paying attention to how shared rhythms connect hearts.
Body Smart – Go to the park. Let them climb, tumble, and test their strength. Movement teaches boundaries and bravery.
Nature Smart – Collect leaves or stargaze. Talk about the order and wonder of creation and the God who made it.
People Smart – Play board games, practice conversation starters, or simply sit and read body language together.
Self Smart – Encourage journaling or reflection time. Help them articulate who they are in Christ and what they’re learning about themselves.
Remember: Technology isn’t the enemy, but it’s a poor substitute for humanity. Let’s be the generation of parents who reconnect our kids with people, pull them back into play, and remind them daily: you are made in the image of God, and nothing is more valuable than that.