The Things You Have to Do Before I Buy You a Phone

With our kids glued to electronics earlier than ever, we’re watching technology overthrow the wildness of childhood. We’ve unintentionally deprived them of all the unique coming-of-age experiences we grew up with: exploring the neighborhood, learning skills the hard way, triumphing over boredom. The Things You Have to Do Before I Buy You a Phone is your field guide to resurrecting core childhood—a playful, practical checklist packed with fifty adventures that will give your kids independence, curiosity, and grit.

More than a book, it’s a bonding project. On their own or by your side, your kids will learn to cook dinner (and clean up!), navigate the world without GPS, get paid for a skill, catch a fish, write a decent thank-you note, and much more. It’s an exciting set of challenges with an irresistible reward: their very own phone. With humor and heart, Adam Ferguson offers a road map for raising capable, well-rounded kids in a screen-saturated world. 

The phone can wait. The memories can’t. Dive in and see how far this list takes you, together.