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

Because Punching Your Thumbs Against Screens Isn’t Life

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.