“Screen Free" Boundaries in an Overly Digital World
- rstinson10
- Oct 7, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 13
We live in an overly digital society. Everything seems to have an app to download. Reserving rides and dining meticulously at theme parks is necessary. Online shopping, social media and on demand entertainment via youtube and streaming services has made our culture dependent on internet and digital services, more than we might be aware of. It is hard to get away from it. As parents, we have a responsibility to manage our children's device usage, but it is important for us as adults to limit screens in our lives as well, where and when we can.
Here are some of things to do to set boundaries for how and when children can use their devices:
Buy (older) DVDs at thrift shops to combat the dumbed down, activist, expensive and complicated streaming services. Streaming services are acceptable sometimes, but using them less puts more focus on real life activities.
Provide toys, games and art supplies that are healthy, fun, and safe.
Make plans! Go on field trips with your family or some friends, meet-up with friends, go to the gym, do art classes, go to the pool, and visit farms.
Limit kids Youtube usage to educational topics, such as science demonstrations, cooking shows, tutorials, math problem assistance, and pet care. Do not use Youtube as a substitute babysitter.
Encourage reading for fun. Research authors and books with good stories and values. Buy used and new physical books so you can have books to read at home for your family. Reading is an important life skill and can be a great healthy alternative to digital entertainment.
Have a daily schedule for meals, snacks, school time and yes, even devices and screen usage.
Shared devices between with kids: by doing so, you will reduce the dependency upon using a device as the sole means of entertainment.
Do not allow electronics in the kids bedrooms: that's a recipe for disaster and a way to teach kids to be disobedient.
Be selective about video games, movies and TV shows that kids watch: much of kids entertainment provided today is activism and propaganda, or it is meaningless filler.
Bring activities with you when traveling on vacation, in car rides, waiting at the dentist office, etc. instead of relying upon devices in these situations.
Have physical cookbooks available for your children. "4 ingredient"and "quick and easy recipe" cookbooks are usually better than ones that are written for kids.
Let them listen to music using a basic MP3 player or an old school CD player, instead of using a phone or other screen.
Provide children with solid sandals kids can climb trees and ride bikes in safely.
Trun off screens at meal times. Instead, do a non screen activity together or talk about your day. Our family likes to do trivia cards, coloring sheets, and play "Taboo" or "Bingo". We also read books to the kids at the table. Bring activities for the kids to do while they wait for the food at a restaurant.
Be friends in real life
Be mindful of your internet footprint and relationships online. As a policy, we do not friend anyone on Facebook. People have replaced meeting up for coffee with friending and following people on social media. "Facebook friends" are not real friendship and people tend to collect friends like Pokemon. They tend to be counterfeit because you never have to meet or interact in real life. Break away from this cycle.
What we say when someone tries to friend us: "Thank you for the friend request, however, we do not friend any one on Facebook. We keep in touch with friends in real life and keep track of our contacts using an address book on Excel. We are always up for a meetup!
Respect other people's privacy. Do not post photos of others on social media. If you are at someone's house, their artwork, bookshelves and photos of ther home does not need to be on the internet either. Photos on the internet are forever.
Celebrate birthdays in real life!
Being a mom is a unique situation. Meeting up with other moms for a moms night out, coffee or dinner sometimes is important.
When entertaining company, keep the electronics off and put away. Friends come over to be friends: they can watch TV or play video games in their own time.
This post is from an independent toy store. It is alarming that toys are advertised for use in technology instead of dramatic play. 
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