When the Screens Get Too Loud: Starting the New Year with a New Tech Rhythm
Welcome to 2026! If you're anything like us at Celebrate Kids, you're stepping into the new year with some questions, some dreams, and maybe even a few boundaries you're hoping to set in your home. Over the holidays, you probably watched your kids go from snuggles on the sofa to scrolling on the couch, and maybe back again. You’re not alone. It's the rhythm of our homes today. But what if it could be different?
As Dr. Kathy and I talked on the podcast today about this real challenge so many of us face right now: technology’s grip on our kids, and on us.
A recent Pew Research study found that nearly half of teenagers say they're online “almost constantly.” Not sometimes. Not often. Constantly. That word should stir something in us. Because while tech might promise connection, constant connection to a screen isn't the connection kids are craving.
But here’s where it gets complicated: most of our kids are smart enough to know it’s not always good for them. And many of them, even if they can’t say it, wish someone would help them find a way out.
So what do we do? Ban everything? Take the phone, tablet, and laptop and lock them up for a month?
Maybe. But maybe not.
Building New Tech Habits
The truth is, abrupt change rarely works well for humans, big or small. What Dr. Kathy reminded us is that rhythms of change matter more than rules of change. What kids need isn’t just less tech; they need more of something better: more connection and more wonder, more choice with purpose.
So what if, instead of saying “no more tech,” we said, “Let’s figure this out, together.”
That’s what Joshua did in the Old Testament. Standing before the people of Israel, he didn’t shame them. He didn’t lecture them about their past. He simply drew a line in the sand: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
He gathered the people, and he led with vision and clarity. He named the temptation (false gods) and offered something greater, life under God's authority.
You can do the same. Not with fear. Not with frustration. But with family. With grace. With vision.
You might start the conversation like this:
“What kind of person do you want to be in 2026?”
“What makes you feel more like the you God made you to be?”
“What things in your day make you feel rushed, stressed, or lonely—and what things make you feel full of peace and joy?”
Then, as a family, write it down. Post it up. Make a tech plan not to punish, but to pursue something better.
A Quick Step in the Right Direction
You don’t have to go cold turkey. You can take small, strategic steps:
15 minutes less each day.
A game before dinner.
Phones away after 8.
Little changes lead to bigger breakthroughs.
Let’s Use the 8 Great Smarts to Build New Tech Rhythms:
Here’s how you can engage your child’s smarts as you talk about tech habits:
Word Smart: Invite your kids to write a “Tech Resolutions” poem or prayer for 2026. Use storytelling or journaling to capture how they feel when they’ve been on screens too much.
Logic Smart: Work together to track screen time and create a system to gradually reduce it. Ask questions like, “What happens to your brain when you spend hours on tech?” and brainstorm better patterns.
Picture Smart: Design a poster together of what your “Ideal Family Evening” looks like. Color it, sketch it, or collage it. Then try it!
Music Smart: Create a family playlist for tech-free time. Let each family member add songs that bring peace, joy, or creativity.
Body Smart: Replace 30 minutes of tech with movement: bike rides, snowball fights, or a family yoga challenge. Celebrate the shift physically.
Nature Smart: Take a walk to talk about changes. Ask your kids how unplugging might feel like a fresh season or garden reset.
People Smart: Roleplay tech conversations: what to say when a friend wants to scroll all day. Practice eye contact and presence.
Self Smart: Invite your kids to reflect privately on their relationship with tech. What’s helping? What’s hurting? What do they want to grow into?
Remember, when families commit to this together, kids like themselves better. They smile more. They argue less. They remember what they love about being siblings. They even say things like, “I’m glad we did this.” Yes, really.
So be encouraged. You don’t have to fix everything. You just have to begin.
Because this year isn’t about less tech. It’s about more of what matters.