Aspire Church’s Digital Collective for Families
At Aspire Church, we believe children are formed primarily through embodied presence, meaningful relationships, and life with God—not through algorithms. This Digital Collective is for any parent or guardian who desires to join our collective effort to delay digital saturation and encourage healthy, Jesus-shaped formation in the next generation.
As we embark on this collective action, Aspire Church NextGen Leadership commits to using embodied and interactive methods of teaching biblical principles in a safe and loving environment. We will provide support for your family as you disciple your children.
“Train up a child in the way he should go…” — Proverbs 22:6
As a family, we commit to these common practices:
Preschool Practice – We commit to...
- Delaying screen exposure as long as possible (with video-calling family and friends as an exception).
- Limiting educational screen-time to:
- Encouraging daily unstructured play.
- Encouraging outdoor play with appropriate safety boundaries.
- Allowing our children to experience boredom as a healthy part of development.
- Encouraging play with mixed ages whenever possible.
Elementary Practice – We commit to...
- Delaying personal device ownership as long as possible.
- Keeping screens in common areas of the home.
- No screens during the first and last hours of the day.
- Limit screen time to approximately 2 hours or less daily (of educational and age-appropriate content).
- Encouraging outdoor, imaginative, and mixed-age group play.
- Increasing age-appropriate independence.
Middle/High School Practice – We commit to...
- Delaying smartphone ownership as long as possible (ideally until high school).
- Delaying social media access (ideally until age 16).
- No screens during the first and last hours of the day.
- Teaching discernment, self-control, and digital wisdom rather than simply enforcing rules.
- Ongoing conversations about technology’s influence on identity, sexuality, comparison, and faith.
Parental Practice – We commit to...
- Modeling healthy digital habits.
- Using parental controls wisely and consistently.
- Explaining the purpose behind digital boundaries.
- Prioritizing time with God, church community, and real-life friendships.
- Regularly reviewing and adjusting our family’s digital rhythms.
Prayerfully consider adopting these practices in your home. If you feel the Spirit leading your family to commit to these practices as part of a collective, join our discussion on Wednesday evenings about the book, The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23
Our goal is not control – it is formation.
Not isolation – but flourishing.
Not fear – but freedom in Christ.
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