Let’s get this out of the way — I have no business dealing with kids. None.
But I am worried about the future.
After years recruiting in the construction industry, I’ve seen too many people convinced that success only comes with a degree and a desk. That’s wrong. Some minds are built for building.
Hands Over Tech is my way of backing the builders, the fixers, the tinkerers — the ones who learn by doing, not scrolling.
Because not every bright kid belongs behind a keyboard.
Nerds will nerd. Builders will build.
I’m just here to make sure they’ve got the tools to start early.
-
Here’s the short version: kids need playtime, not pixels.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no screen time for kids under 2 (except video chats with Grandma), and just 1 hour a day of high-quality content for kids aged 2–5. Older kids? Keep it under 2 hours when you can — and make sure the rest of their day’s spent moving, building, and talking to real people.
At Hands Over Technology, we say: if their hands are busy building, their brains are learning. The best screen-time rule? Fewer hours, more hammers.
You don’t need a fancy app to fix a screen habit — just a little grit.
Start with this:
Screens aren’t evil. They’re just loud. Quiet the noise and give your kid a hammer — watch how fast they forget the tablet.
There’s a difference between learning online and scrolling for sport.
Digital learning’s fine when it’s purposeful — coding lessons, math games, or schoolwork. But when that Chromebook becomes a TikTok trap, it’s time to unplug.
Teach your kids to see screens as tools, not toys.
Use them to learn — then step away and do something with what they learned.
That balance builds digital smarts and
real-world skills.
You can’t bubble-wrap the internet, but you can teach your kid how to use it right.
Show ’em how to spot fake links, shady ads, and “too-good-to-be-true” videos.
Explain why sharing personal info online’s a big ol’ no-go.
Digital literacy isn’t about banning screens — it’s about raising smart, safe users who know when to log off.
Because knowing how to build online’s handy — but knowing when to shut the laptop and build something real? That’s power.