Polly and the Screen Time Overload

Introducing Kids to the Importance of Boundaries with Technology

Technology can be a helpful tool and source of enjoyment for many families―a way to aid children with learning, to connect with loved ones, and to provide entertainment. But as with many good gifts from God, tech devices are best used in moderation.

In this new picture book, readers meet Polly while on a trip to her grandparents’ farm. During her visit she spends all her time on her new tablet instead of enjoying the farm animals and playing with her cousins. A chat with her grandfather teaches her that, though screen time can be good, it can also keep kids away from better things. Using simple language and beautiful illustrations, children ages 3–7 are introduced to the idea that technology is best enjoyed within boundaries. A TGC Kids book.

Free Download: 44 Activities for Kids That Don't Involve Screens

• Makes A Great Gift for Kids Ages 3–7: The second book in a series of picture books from TGC Kids, which also includes Arlo and the Great Big Cover Up
• A Fun Story with an Important Message: One of few books written for children about the influence of technology, it also addresses current issues of moral formation and discernment
• Advice for Parents and Guardians: A “Note to Grown Ups” gives adults tips for how to help their children learn self-control and moderation in tech habits

Betsy Childs Howard (MA, Beeson Divinity School) is an editor for the Gospel Coalition. She is the author of Arlo and the Great Big Cover-Up and Polly and the Screen Time Overload. Betsy and her husband, Bernard, live with their two little boys in Birmingham, Alabama.

Samara Hardy is a freelance illustrator and designer who creates artwork for greeting cards, stationery, housewares, children’s books, and more. She has worked with clients across the globe, such as Hallmark, Trader Joe’s, Oxford University Press, and American Greetings.