"...solid ideas for reducing digital dependency."
—Publishers Weekly
"Will likely prove to be a popular title for the many parents who want to wean their family's device-dependence."
—Library Journal
"...solid ideas for reducing digital dependency."
—Publishers Weekly
"With advice on removing televisions from bedrooms and limiting screen time or tablet usage to a couple of hours per week, this is a helpful guide for parents who hope to curb their family's electronic habits."
—Foreword Reviews
"A digital minimalist’s must-have guide to launching your kids into a life of real connectedness and authenticity."
—Joshua Becker, #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Things That Matter
"Martinko expertly and urgently takes us deeper into the hidden horrors of too much screen time on the growing child. Then she throws us all a life preserver with the most practical, gentle advice I’ve seen."
—Angela Hanscom, author, Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children
"Katherine Martinko makes the case that not only is a screen-free childhood possible, but reducing our children's time on screen is essential for their happiness, sanity, and health. Thoroughly researched and beautifully written, it should be mandatory reading for all parents."
—Catherine Price, founder, ScreenLifeBalance.com, author, How to Break Up with Your Phone
"The passionate, clear-eyed, and thoroughly practical guide every parent needs to fight the good fight against the excesses of digital today."
—David Sax, bestselling author, The Revenge of Analog and The Future is Analog
"Truthful and transparent expert information combined with pragmatic and practical advice on how to liberate parents and “unplug” children. A must-read for any parent who wants to bring back the joys of parenting…and the fun of childhood."
—Dr. Mari Swingle (R. Psych), author, i-Minds, director, Swingle Clinic
"It takes an enormous effort to show our kids the world beyond their screens, but Katherine Martinko teaches us how to get it done in this practical, empathetic, and fascinating new guide."
—Michael Harris, author, Solitude and The End of Absence
"Martinko provides an in-depth, well-researched guide filled with reflections on her own journey with (but of course mostly without!) screens, and the joy she has experienced from “unplugging.” A useful guide for those keen to begin their own screen-free journey."
—Outdoor Play Canada
"Martinko has written a must-read for parents struggling with screen time (all of us!). Her well-researched book shows the urgent need to free kids from screens and release them into the outdoors. She offers frazzled parents achievable practical advice rooted in the challenges of parenting today."
—Dr. Mariana Brussoni, professor, University of British Columbia, director, Human Early Learning Partnership
08/01/2023
Living in a house surrounded by books, board games, and musical instruments in lieu of entertainment centers and devices, sustainable living expert Martinko has written much for treehugger.com about the joys of living as technology-free as possible. As a child, she lived in a lake house in Muskoka, Canada, with no neighbors most of the year; this environment encouraged her to engage in imaginative play. An increased amount of free time and outdoor activities are a few of the rewards her family gained from her parents' decision to not have Wi-Fi. The author shares both the "why" and the "how" to help parents recapture a childhood captive to screens. Part I analyzes the hefty price and the mental and physical health impact that dependence on technology can cause. Part II is designed to help children (and parents) not only put their devices down but replace them with better options. The book recommends donating, selling, or giving away gadgets in order to set a positive example. Included are a list of resources, websites, and books for further research. VERDICT Will likely prove to be a popular title for the many parents who want to wean their family's device-dependence.