Author FAQs
What is The Unplugged Family Movement?
The Unplugged Family Movement is a quiet rebellion against a world that keeps pulling families apart with screens. It’s the belief that real connection (laughing over board games, reading by flashlight, getting muddy together) is still the most powerful magic we have. My research and stories are all invitations to close the laptops, silence the phones, and choose the messier, louder, braver path of being fully present with the people we love most.
If you’ve ever closed a laptop so you could open a board game with your kids...
Traded scrolling for storytelling...
Or believe stories are still one of the best ways to remind us who we are and who we can still become…
…then you’re already part of The Unplugged Family Movement.
Welcome home.
Do you have a suggested reading order for the Unplugged Family series?
Absolutely — here’s the order that gives you the complete roadmap:
Screen-Free Foundations (the why and the big-picture how)
100 Screen-Free Activities for Kids (your grab-and-go idea book for every age and season)
Mindful Parenting (deepening emotional connection once screens are no longer the default babysitter)
Tech-Free Adventures (taking the unplugged life outdoors, all year round)
The Unplugged Family Toolkit (daily routines, printable trackers, and long-term habits to make it stick forever)
Start with Book 1, then add the others as you feel ready. Many parents tell me they keep Book 2 on the kitchen counter like a cookbook!
What age range are your books written for?
Screen-Free Foundations and the entire Unplugged Family series are created for parents of children ages 0–12 — from babies who are just discovering the world through touch and voices to school-age kids who are suddenly handed school tablets and gaming consoles. Every chapter and activity is broken down by age (babies 0–2, toddlers 2–5, and school-age 6–12) so you can open the book at whatever stage your family is in right now and find ideas that work today. Thousands of parents with mixed-age siblings use the books together because the strategies scale beautifully as kids grow.
Where is the best place to buy your books if I want to support your work the most?
The answer that makes my heart happy (but is currently under construction): signed paperbacks bought directly from me through AliGrey.com/shop. That puts the biggest royalty straight into creating more resources for unplugged families (and I get to write a personal note to you and your kids!). After that, Amazon (linked below) is the next-best way to support me. Wherever you buy, though, I’m genuinely grateful — requesting the books at your local library or bookstore spreads the screen-free message even further, and that matters just as much, if not more.
Can I utilize these books without quitting screens completely?
Absolutely! — I’m not here to make anyone feel guilty or live like it’s 1950. My own family still uses technology when it truly serves us (a quick video call with grandparents, a recipe lookup, or the occasional family movie night). What the Unplugged Family series is really about is giving screens their proper place — a small, intentional corner — instead of letting them steal the center of our days. Most families who love these books are simply tired of devices dominating meals, bedtimes, playtime, etc. They want practical ways to tip the balance back toward real connection, creativity, and calm. If that’s you, you’re in exactly the right place.
Can I book you for a school visit, library event, parent-night talk, or Zoom with my mom group?
Yes, please! No event is too big or small. I love speaking to parents, teachers, and librarians who want practical, guilt-free ways to raise happier, less screen-addicted kids. My talks are interactive, full of real stories from the trenches, and always leave people with a handful of “I can do this tomorrow” ideas. I’m currently booking in-person and virtual events for 2026 and beyond. Just head to AliGrey.com/contact and tell me about your event, group, or situation — I’ll get right back to you.
We’re feeling overwhelmed and want to cut back on screens — where should we even start?
Start tiny and celebrate every win — that’s the secret that actually works. Pick ONE thing this week: maybe screen-free dinners, or no devices in bedrooms after 7 p.m., or a 10-minute playdate with your child where your phone stays in another room. Then grab the completely free “10 Screen-Free Tips for Busy Parents” PDF at AliGrey.com/freeresources — it walks you through the gentlest first steps plus a 7-day mini-challenge families love to used as their launch pad. You don’t have to overhaul everything overnight. One small, consistent change is how every unplugged family i know began — and they’re still going strong years later. You’ve already taken the hardest step: deciding you want something different. I’m cheering you on, and I’ve got your back the whole way.