Durban North mom, marketer and author Daniela d’Hotman de Villiers is on a mission to help families rediscover presence, connection and humanity in an age of screens, social media and AI.
In a world where toddlers swipe before they speak, teens scroll before they greet, and adults check messages before they breathe, digital marketing specialist Daniela d’Hotman de Villiers is carving out a gentler, more grounded path.
By day, Daniela runs Savvy Social, a successful digital marketing agency she built over the past seven years. She works at the intersection of social media, AI, and human behaviour – a front-row seat to the whirlwind pace of technological change. But by night, she is simply mom to two boys, aged five and two, who have unknowingly become her greatest teachers in what it really means to stay human in a digital-first world.“
Technology is evolving so fast,” she says. “I see how it shapes businesses, communities, even identity. But I also see how it shapes our children – their attention, their self-esteem, their connection. And as a mom, I can’t help asking: What kind of world are they growing up in?”
Those questions sparked Savvy Kids, a new children’s book series dedicated to helping today’s little ones grow up human-first and connection-first, even when digital-first is the reality around them.
Every night in the De Villiers home, reading two books before bed is a sacred ritual. It’s a moment of softness and connection, slowing down and being fully present. But one evening, as her son Matteo begged for ‘one more minute’ of Bluey, Daniela noticed how familiar the moment felt. “I do the same as an adult,” she laughs. “Just one more scroll. Just one more reel. It hit me – we’re all Felix (the fox in her book series).”
And just like that, the idea arrived: A sweet fox named Felix wandering through a beautiful world, missing it entirely because he never looked up. Her debut book, The Fox Who Forgot to Look Up, launched recently at the Children’s Book Festival. It’s not anti-technology, instead, it’s a gentle reminder about balance, presence, awareness and connection. A nudge to step back, breathe and notice the magic around us.
In her home, ‘remember Felix’ has become the newest family catchphrase – used for both children and adults.
“When screen time is up, I say, ‘Boys, remember Felix,’ and they just get it now. But the twist is that when I’m on my phone too long, Matteo says, ‘Mommy… remember Felix.’ And honestly, I need that reminder, too.”
Although the Savvy Kids series is written for ages three to seven, its heart is big and its mission bold. Daniela believes strongly in starting conversations about balance, empathy, comparison and digital behaviour early – long before children are handed a device of their own.
“Before eight, children are forming the emotional and cognitive habits that stay with them for life,” she explains. “These aren’t teen conversations. These are childhood conversations.” Children as young as four already imitate what they see online. They compare, they copy, they absorb. And as AI-generated content floods their future, understanding what is ‘real’ will be one of the biggest life skills of all.
“Children learn through stories,” Daniela says. “Stories are ancient. They’re safe. They give kids pictures they can carry with them forever, just like the stories my Nonna told me when I was little. Those stories shaped me. I hope Savvy Kids will do the same.”
Daniela is careful to stress that Savvy Kids isn’t anti-tech. In fact, the illustrations of Felix were created through a blend of AI-generated images and the artistry of illustrator Shaun Parkes – a beautiful symbol of using technology with intention.
“We can’t outrun digital change,” she says. “AI is learning fast, we are learning fast, the algorithm is learning fast but what matters most is the human navigating it.”
Her mission is simple, to raise thinkers, not scrollers; raise questioners, not imitators; and to raise connected children in a disconnected world. And The Fox Who Forgot to Look Up is only the beginning.
Book two, Sammy the Squirrel and the Shiny Screen, explores comparison, confidence, and the highlight reels we see online, while her third book, Tammy the Turtle and the Tricky Pictures, helps little ones understand AI imagery and what it means to look for the truth beneath the surface. All big topics wrapped in soft, whimsical stories that spark big conversations in tiny hearts.
And with Felix, Sammy and Tammy leading the way, Daniela hopes to give families something increasingly rare – moments of presence, curiosity and connection – one story at a time.
Tips to raise savvy kids in a digital world
Practical ideas parents can start tonight with no overwhelm, no guilt, just gentle guidance.
- Name your tech behaviour out loud; For example, ‘Mommy is sending a work message’ or ‘I’m putting my phone down now so we can play.’ Kids learn more from what we model than what we say.
• Use simple story-based prompts … A phrase like ‘Remember Felix’ helps kids self-regulate without conflict or shame.
• Create a ‘Connection Anchor’ each day. Ten minutes of undistracted time doing things like reading, walking or drawing, fills a child’s emotional tank.
• Ask feeling questions, not screen questions. Instead of ‘What did you watch?’ try ‘How did it make you feel?’ This builds emotional intelligence and early digital literacy.
• Teach early critical thinking. Kids as young as four can learn to ask: ‘Is this real or pretend?’ or ‘Is this edited?’ or ‘What do I think about this?’
Five gentle screen-time principles
(no guilt required)
Screens aren’t the enemy – disconnection is.
Balance is a family value, not a punishment.
Tech-free moments teach presence.
What we model matters more than rules.
The goal is awareness, not perfection.
About the book
The Fox Who Forgot to Look Up is available for R220 from savvykidsbooks.com or Takealot.
Details: You can also email Daniela at daniela@savvysocial.co.za or follow her on Instagram: @savvykidsbooks
