Screen time is a growing concern amongst parents with children spending 4 and a half hours daily behind a device. As well as possible damage to their eyes, excessive use can worsen symptoms of mental health (such as depression and anxiety) and impair the brain’s cognitive function. It also reduces the amount of quality time that you have together as a family as they are highly addictive. It’s not just the children that become fixated with checking theirs, adults are just as prone to fall victim. If you’re looking for a way to give up devices as a family, here are 5 screen free activities for you below.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
The best way to stop reaching for phones and tablets is to keep them out of plain sight. You can create a vault to leave and lock away your devices for a minimum of two hours a day. Children look up to their parents and by reaching for your phone whilst they aren’t allowed theirs sets a poor example and contradicts the very thing that you’re trying to teach. While it may be hard, staying committed to this pledge as a family can help to create boundaries and healthy habits around screen time.
Head on Outside
There are some amazing benefits to getting outdoors and the learning opportunities are unrivalled. The serene atmosphere outside can uplift anyone’s mood and improve your little one’s mental health. Children can also learn about nature and how to take care of it by being taught how to garden. In addition, they can work on developing their fine motor skills as they will need to dig, pot and plant. Elements of both science and geography can be explored by teaching children about photosynthesis, plant reproduction and the water cycle.
Find a Sport
You might want to look for something to play together as a family, like a game of football or rounders. It will help keep them occupied for a while and physically active. This can also assist in the development of their gross motor skills (ability to use their larger muscle tissues).
Board Games
If your child enjoys playing video games, board games are a nice screen-free alternative. While the experience might not be entirely the same, you will be able to compete against one another, have time to bond and enjoy each other’s company. As board games require strategy, they will need to apply themselves and practise critical thinking. With there being so many, from Monopoly to Cluedo, you will be bound to find something that grabs their interest.
Build Their Culinary Skills
Cooking is a step towards becoming self-sufficient. Once they have a few simple recipes under their belt, they will be able to prepare food for themselves when you’re not around. It teaches children about basic nutrition and leading a healthy lifestyle. It also presents learning opportunities – You can practise maths as you will need to follow and adjust recipes accordingly. Areas that you can explore include fractions, units, multiplication, addition, and other operations. Just be sure that you’re there to supervise and keep an eye on them at all times as kitchens have lots of hazards.
Bonus Tip: Reading
Engaging in screen-free activities can help the family unwind and take a break from technology. Instead of scrolling through a phone or watching TV, try picking up a hobby like reading a book. For avid collectors, exploring a new interest, such as comic book collecting, can be rewarding. Using a price guide to track down rare or valuable comics can be a fun challenge and a great screen-free activity.
These are just a few ways that you can resist the temptation and spend quality time together as a family, all whilst in the comfort of your own home. If you have the means, why not plan fun days out to the museum or organise a nature trail? It will give your children the chance to broaden their horizons and explore the world around them.
If you made it to the end of this post, I hope that you found my tips helpful and invite you to have a read of my other blogs – I share a range of parenting tips and guidance like this.
Thank you for reading.
