Screen Time
It’s a rather brilliant piece showing kids happily engaged in outdoor play when a black screen slowly pushes in on them interrupting their play.
I checked out their website and it states that the average Canadian kid spends up to 8 hours a day on screen time, yikes. This is one instance where I am glad my kids are below average.
(My kids can’t stand it when I do this but…)
When I was young, my screen time was maybe a half hour show, Scooby Doo, Gilligan’s Island or The Brady Bunch but our T.V. reception was sketchy using tin foil to ensure a somewhat clear black and white picture on one of our 4 channels.
The color T.V. came later as did the computer but it was just for writing papers.
Our one telephone plugged into the wall and we had a party line which means we had our own number but we shared the telephone line so if the neighbours were on the phone we couldn’t use it. There were no phones in our back pockets.
No handheld devices to play games on or take photos with or text.
It’s no wonder I spent a large portion of my childhood in the great outdoors playing until I was called in for dinner or because it grew too dark outside and it was bedtime.
So today with so many electronics at the ready with games, clans, challenges, chats, grams, texts, etc. I can see why screen time is a big temptation but it’s a bit of a vortex for kids, heck I’m even guilty of too much screen time.
So what can be done?!?
Here is what can be done to cut down on screen time.
– Set a limit – don’t allow unlimited screen time but give a time limit, in our house it’s definitely less than 8 hours…try 1 to 2
– Lead by example – as they say, actions speak louder than words
– Power Off Time – everyone hands in their devices at a certain time each evening
– No electronics in the bedroom – just reading and sleeping
– No electronics at school
– Provide fun alternatives…a hike, a walk, a game, a fun project, a task
That’s just a handful of ideas about how to unplug but there is lots of useful information and ideas on the ParticipACTION.com website.
If you have any other ideas or resources I’d be glad to hear them but for now, step away from the screen☺
