In today’s episode, Sheldon and Valerie sit down with special guest Chris McKenna for an honest and insightful conversation about something that touches all of our lives—our relationship with technology. They explore how our devices are shaping not just our habits, but our relationships and overall well-being.

Chris brings a thoughtful perspective on what it looks like to parent in a hyper-connected world and makes a compelling case for reintroducing an ancient practice into our modern lives: the sweetness of doing nothing. Together, they unpack why it's more crucial than ever to carve out space for rest, presence, and intentional living in our daily routines.

This interview is part of the upcoming Confident Parent Series, launching April 28, 2025, from FamilyLife Canada. Don’t miss out on the full lineup of conversations and free resources designed to encourage and equip parents across the country.

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Chris McKenna is the founder of Protect Young Eyes and President of The Better Tech Project. Chris is a respected digital safety voice, creating valuable and practical resources for families and schools. His impactful 2019 testimony before the US Senate initiated a series of hearings to further online child protection policy. Years of gritty effort earned PYE the 2020 Dignity Defense Award from the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and the 2024 Child Safety Award from The Phase Alliance.

Recent state-level legislation co-authored by Chris - the Child Device Protection Bill - passed in Utah and moved through multiple chambers in six other states. It will force devices to enable existing content filters when activated by a minor.

He is a technical advisor to Angel Kids AI and works closely with digital safety advocates and legislators to craft policies that reign in abusive technologies. As a representative of the Human Change Movement, Chris spoke at the 2024 and 2025 World Economic Forum.

Under his guidance, the Protect Young Eyes team conducts presentations worldwide to parents, professionals, and schools, and gained recognition by being featured in the Childhood 2.0 movie. Their website, courses, and private parent community show caregivers step-by-step how to prepare and protect their children in digital spaces.

Chris cherishes family, including road trips with his four children, connecting with nature, running, romping with his pups, and almost anything sweet.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protectyoungeyes/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mckenna-75962211/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/protectyoungeyes

Website: https://protectyoungeyes.com/

Links for items talked about in the episode:

3 Things To Get Started - https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/start-here

5 Habits of a Tech-Ready Home on-demand course for parents - https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/course

The Table - https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/the-table

Processing Questions:

1. How do you think your children interpret your relationship with technology?
2. How would introducing some sweet nothingness moments in your life help?
3. What’s one small step you could take today that could make a big impact in your household tomorrow?