How to Set Limits Without Starting a War

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Dr. Dale Michels. In this episode they discuss children, grandchildren, and screen time through the lens of Romans 12:2 — "do not conform but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Practical guidance includes modeling healthy device use, setting and enforcing consistent limits (with timers), knowing what kids are watching, filling the screen-time void with alternatives (games, Legos, outdoor play, ice cream or kite time), and partnering across generations so parents and grandparents hold the same boundaries. The program closes with a call to invest in one young person’s life and a prayer for protection and renewal of the next generation. Action steps using the 4 R words: - Read: Spend a few minutes daily reading Scripture together (Romans 12:2 is central; children’s Bible story reading is recommended for younger kids). - Reflect: Ask simple questions—What patterns of the world are we imitating? What content shapes our thoughts and feelings? Where can we replace screen habits with healthier rhythms? - Respond: Pray briefly with the child or teen. Example prayer from the program: “Lord, we lift up the next generation to you. Protect their minds and hearts. Give wisdom to parents and grandparents. Captivate their hearts and renew their minds. In Jesus’ name, amen.” - Reveal: Demonstrate the truth by investing time—take a child for ice cream, fly a kite, play a game, read a Bible story together, or teach a new skill—and share what God is doing in your life with someone else. Need resources or to connect? Email Arnie Cole: [email protected] Keywords: screen time, grandchildren, Christian parenting, digital parenting, Romans 12:2, renewing of the mind, faith formation, children's Bible, family discipleship, Dr. Michels, Arnie Cole Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft