It was one of those shining moments in parenting.
All three of my children got together and approached me with pink Unplug and Play passports in hand.
“We want to do this,” they said. “We can do a week without screen time.”
Whoa.
Since some of the biggest battles in our household involve children fighting over TV and computer time, I was stunned into silence for a moment.
I had tossed the idea around in my own mind, but hadn’t brought myself to face what I thought would be a gauntlet of whining and moaning over cuts to their screen time.
Now, here I was in disbelief that the kids had decided this would be a cool thing to do all on their own.
There are a few ground rules. Homework (and adult work) computer use is authorized, as is family movie night, but all other screens are out for the week.
We sat down and perused the leaflet showing some of the fun options organized by the Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap, and tried to pick out ones that fit into our busy schedule.
But we also thought up some things that we might like to do just on our own. We tromped through the snow of our front yard and hung the Grade One project bird feeder, which turned into the making of snow gummy bears, as snowmen were just not exciting enough. The net result was rosy cheeks, soggy mittens and a healthy sense of bliss.
The kids are even policing me.
“Mom, do you really need to be checking your email again…” said my daughter.
No. I didn’t. Instead I joined my twins in a rousing game of Blokus, where I have to admit that my six-year-old daughter legitimately beat me for the first time.
We’re now on day four and, while I have had to dodge the giant Lego sculptures in the living room and pick up a myriad of pink construction paper bits from creating the homemade Valentine’s session, it has been an enjoyable experience.
Sure, some of the screen time fights have now devolved into fighting over who gets to read the Ninjago book, but I can live with that.
Eliminating screens from our lives is simply not going to happen. And technology can be a blessing. My kids are way more engaged with earning their way through the various “animal levels” on a math computer program than they are sitting with me and doing a worksheet. But, as with so many things in life, it’s about balance and moderation. Screen time can become an addictive pastime and lead us to forget about the power of face-to-face conversation, active playtime and appreciation for the beauty and wonder of our outdoor environment.
It’s not too late to get started. Unplug and Play week runs until Jan. 31. Or simply set up your own unplugged week. You might be surprised at how eager the kids are to give it a try.
