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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 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 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.
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 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 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.
116 pages, Hardcover
Published July 1, 2025
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September 21, 2025
The Things You Have to Do Before I Buy You a Phone by Adam Ferguson is the ultimate stocking stuffer for your preteen this Christmas.
They might scowl at you and toss the book on top of their obligatory packages of Christmas socks, but trust me, it’s worth it.
The Things You Have to Do Before I Buy You a Phone provides an illustrated checklist of 50 skills and experiences your child would benefit from having as they move toward adulthood—things like:
• Clean the bathroom.
• Build a fire.
• Approach someone you don’t know well.
• Come to work with me for a day.
• Volunteer your time for the community.
And my personal favorite:
• Save enough money to buy the phone yourself.
It’s a quick read at only 116 pages yet provides a thorough description of each of the 50 tasks.
As Ferguson says, he “is just a dad trying to fix a problem in the world,” the problem of too many real life experiences being replaced by virtual ones, resulting in the loss of important personal values, like perseverance, courage, and imagination. What I love is that many of these tasks are meant to be done together, making them a beautiful way to create lifelong memories with your child.
My son has already taken a peek at the list and started complaining, but that is only to be expected. Some of the items don’t fit our particular life situation, so I appreciate that the author also provides ideas for how certain items can be adapted. One place we disagree—Ferguson suggests that kids reach the age of 14 before getting their first phones. I might extend that as far as 16.
I read this book fresh on the heels of The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. If you’re looking for a way to apply Haidt’s principles for extending a play-based and independent childhood, this is your handbook. Give it a try. Have fun. Grow together.
They might scowl at you and toss the book on top of their obligatory packages of Christmas socks, but trust me, it’s worth it.
The Things You Have to Do Before I Buy You a Phone provides an illustrated checklist of 50 skills and experiences your child would benefit from having as they move toward adulthood—things like:
• Clean the bathroom.
• Build a fire.
• Approach someone you don’t know well.
• Come to work with me for a day.
• Volunteer your time for the community.
And my personal favorite:
• Save enough money to buy the phone yourself.
It’s a quick read at only 116 pages yet provides a thorough description of each of the 50 tasks.
As Ferguson says, he “is just a dad trying to fix a problem in the world,” the problem of too many real life experiences being replaced by virtual ones, resulting in the loss of important personal values, like perseverance, courage, and imagination. What I love is that many of these tasks are meant to be done together, making them a beautiful way to create lifelong memories with your child.
My son has already taken a peek at the list and started complaining, but that is only to be expected. Some of the items don’t fit our particular life situation, so I appreciate that the author also provides ideas for how certain items can be adapted. One place we disagree—Ferguson suggests that kids reach the age of 14 before getting their first phones. I might extend that as far as 16.
I read this book fresh on the heels of The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. If you’re looking for a way to apply Haidt’s principles for extending a play-based and independent childhood, this is your handbook. Give it a try. Have fun. Grow together.
Displaying 1 of 1 review