Care and Feeding is Slate’s parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here .

Dear Care and Feeding,

My step-granddaughter, “Jenny,” turns 8 in January.

Her mother (married to my 42-year-old stepson, who has been in my life for 23 years) wants us to buy Jenny a smartwatch for her birthday. My stepson is disengaged and goes along with whatever his wife says; we have a decent but guarded relationship with her.

My husband and (especially) I are deeply uncomfortable with technology for kids. I worked in cybersecurity and have a no-screens policy for all my grandchildren (all of them are under 8 years old) when they’re with me. I have a great relationship with all of them. When they’re here, we play lots of games, do crafts, and do plenty of outside a

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