Rachel Brian, (Be Smart About) Screen Time!, Hachette, November 2024, 64 pp., RRP $26.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780316575546
All parents are (or should be) concerned about the digital health of their kids and this funny and friendly guide is a wonderful way to teach children how to spot dangers, how to set their own boundaries and how to stay safe online.
It’s a very clever design choice to make this book appear at first glance like one of the most popular series for 7–10-year-olds. I’m sure Dav Pilkey wouldn’t mind, but that the cover looks just like his Dogman series. What the author wants is for those kids to gravitate to this non-fiction comic book all about screens, social media and real life.
I am very impressed at the breadth of topics the author was able to cover in such a short number of pages, it feels super comprehensive (for the intended audience). Brian walks kids through the excitement of getting their hands on a device, from the different ways it can be used through to the types of negativities they might encounter online. The dangers that can befall internet users are pointed out, without making it seem too scary. And this is balanced with the suggestion of useful things that devices can be used to accomplish.
I especially appreciated the section about setting your own boundaries online. Kids need to feel like they can stand up for themselves (without becoming a bully) to any trolls that cross their path. It’s just a great life lesson for kids whether the troll is online or in the playground.
Even though this book is written so that most 7–10-year-olds could read this to themselves, my recommendation is for parents to still read this with their children. Parents would have the chance to answer questions as they arise, or to check that the kids understand the content. There is a repeated invitation to seek out help from an adult if kids get themselves in hot water online. For this to work, adults need to be cool and calm when their kid comes to them with the first of their digital dilemmas.
I’ve already mentioned the intended age range as being mainly for primary schoolers, but depending on the child’s maturity, this could also be used by some year 7s and 8s. A wonderful addition to any school or home library. I have seen other good digital-use guides (one I really liked was First Phone, by Catherine Pearlman), but this is probably the best I’ve seen for younger children.
Reviewed by Cherie Bell
