My family needs to unplug from technology, but I have to confess, I am the main culprit behind our media saturated lifestyle. I often plop my children in front of the television in order to get things done.
Have you done that too?
(Crickets…)
It’s a quick fix but often comes with disastrous results. After spending time watching a movie on television, my children’s tempers flare up easily.
Does this happen to you?
(More crickets…)
Y’all need to speak up before I feel like the MOST.INCOMPETENT.PARENT.EVER.
Since my children are so young, they are still shaping their view of the world. Do I really want Disney and Dora to be the main conveyors of truth?
Nope.
I got to thinking about the path I’d like my children to walk. I’d like them to be grow up and become purveyors of truth rather than recipients of people’s propaganda. I’m taking baby steps to accomplish this:
To unplug from technology, I’ll expose my children to living books.
Charlotte Mason, a pioneer in the education of children, coined the term living books. To her, living books were written by an author who knew their subject very well. The author tends to write from their passion for the subject and this enthusiasm enables them to write in such a way that ignites the imagination of his/her readers.
To unplug from technology, I’ll limit my children screen time.
This is where I need to focus the majority of my efforts. For me, it comes down to managing my time better so I can stop doing this:
And limiting their screen time doesn’t mean they NEVER EVER watch TV. It simply means I need to be more purposeful by scheduling it in and not using it as a crutch. Crutches can be disastrous. Just read about the time when my two year old walked out the front door!
To unplug from technology, I’ll give my children lots of outdoor play.
I recently read an article from NPR which said that Old Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills. This article propsoed that, as the generations passed, children’s capacity for self regulation (aka, self-control) decreased.
Playing in nature ignites a child’s capacity to imagine. I believe that our capacity to imagine is a gift from God. Something that I, as a mom, don’t want to squelch.
How about you? Do your children spend lots of time in front of a screen?
Sometimes, I am guilty of plopping them down in front of TV as well. However, for the most part, they are usually drawing, playing outside or chasing each other around the house.
I recently tried having them free play with some fun music in the background. The music seems to keep them focus and they spend the entire length of the album dancing around! Thanks for stopping by, Ana!
I struggle with using TV or the iphone as a crutch for my kids. Sometimes I need to get breakfast/dinner on the table, laundry done, or just a moment of blessed peace, but I always feel guilty about it, especially when I see that glazed over look in their eyes. Now that it’s summer and everyone is home I need to really be mindful of it. I’ve been trying to leave out the art supply baskets and have as much out door play as I can.