About the author
John Paul Hayes
Author of The Tech-Smart Family: How to Raise Happy, Balanced Kids in a Screen-Obsessed World, written for parents across Britain and Ireland who want calm, practical balance rather than fear-based bans.
A parent writing for real family life
John Paul Hayes writes as a parent in Britain and Ireland who recognises the moments many households share: a child freezing mid-sentence when a screen lights up across the room; creative play collapsing into boredom the instant a device powers down; the quiet guilt of handing over a phone to soothe a toddler while dinner burns.
From that shared reality, he offers a research-informed path: understand what screens are doing to developing brains, set age-appropriate guidelines, build daily routines, manage resistance with empathy, plan digital detox resets, and create family media agreements that stick, without inventing scare stories or demanding a tech-free utopia.
The dedication (for Gillian, Saidhbhín, Willow and Frazer) anchors the work in real family life, not abstract theory. The book includes a companion workbook with printable templates so intentions become habits at the kitchen table.
How this book is positioned
| Guide | Emphasis |
|---|---|
| The Tech-Wise Family (Andy Crouch) | Well-known principles-led US Christian family tech wisdom |
| Tech-Smart Parenting (Catherine Knibbs) | Psychology-informed digital parenting perspective |
| The Tech-Smart Family (John Paul Hayes) | Practical UK/Ireland routines, guidelines, detox plans and media agreements for everyday homes |
Explore the free guides on screen time guidelines, digital detox and family media plans, then take the complete system home in the book.