First Phone: A Child's Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Etiquette

A fun and informative illustrated kids’ guide to safely and productively navigating the digital landscape.

Cellphones have become a fact of life, with children as young as eight (yes, eight!) getting their very own “devices.” Such boundless access means our kids are in nearly constant contact with technology that was designed specifically for adults. And they’re doing so without any type of road map. Enter First Phone: the essential book that apprehensive parents can confidently hand to their kids to read as they begin their journey into the digital world.
 
In First Phone, Catherine Pearlman—licensed clinical social worker and parenting expert—speaks directly to eight- to twelve-year-old children about digital safety in a manner that is playful, engaging, and age-appropriate. With insights and strategies supported by the latest research, First Phone offers:
 
  •  guidance on privacy, boundaries, social media, and even sexting (yes, young children need to learn about sexting before it happens!) 
  •  best digital hygiene and self-care practices, including when to put the darn phone down, when to turn off notifications, and where to charge
  •  how to be a kind and compassionate upstander in a digital world
 
An essential companion when your child receives their first phone, this book provides kids the tools and information they need while giving their parents peace of mind.

Dr. Catherine Pearlman, the founder of The Family Coach®, is a licensed clinical social worker who has been working with children and families for more than twenty-five years. She holds a Ph.D. in social welfare from Yeshiva University and a master’s of social work from New York University. Dr. Pearlman is also currently an associate professor of social work at University of Massachusetts Global. She is also the author of Ignore It!: How Selectively Looking the Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction (TarcherPerigee, 2017).