What We Did During Screen-Free Week
Wow! That week was NOT at all what I expected. I thought it was going to be hard … for the kids and for me, most especially for me when I needed to get things done and didn’t have a screen to “put them in front of”.
But … it wasn’t hard at all. It was wonderful.
We cuddled * I let Honor paint her own nails * I played Qwirkle with Henry * Honor made lots of spin art creations * We got a goldfish * We made peeps s’mores * Honor and I made funny faces with playdoh and google eyes * The kids pretended to be doctors for dolls and animals * We played Monopoly Crazy Cash * We played U Build it Monopoly * Honor played with Crayola colored bubbles outside * We made chalk drawings in the driveway * We splashed in puddles * Henry picked bouquets of dandelions * We went on a walk * We played on the swings (A LOT) * We had a sleepover with my cousin * The kids had a glow bath with glow sticks * We made Nature Bracelets with the neighbors * We wrote out and sent Michigan postcards to our blogger friends * Honor made an orange picture for her pen pal, Nico * Henry and the neighbor boys battled bubbles (in full armor!) * I raced Matchbox cars with Henry * Honor helped me in the garden * Henry rode is bike * Henry drew pictures * We read LOTS of books * Played that the swings could magically transport you to anywhere you wanted * Henry created an activity where he would add to the picture he was drawing and we would have to guess what he added * We played with Model Magic * We made GreatGram a Mother’s Day Gift * I went to the farm with Henry’s class * We did some glue/salt/watercolor paintings * I played Thin Ice with Henry * Henry and I played Uno Attack * Henry played “slap the sight work” and sight word baseball * Henry started t-ball.
Now that the week is over, I’m having a hard time figuring out how (and if) I want to transition back into screen time. For the kids, it will be easy. My husband and I saw how much easier it was to deal with daily routines during the time of being screen free … and we realized how out of control screen time use had gotten. We came up with plan that includes limited and restricted use for the kids that started being enforced today.
As for me … I’m torn. I love writing and taking/editing photos. I love sharing the fun things I do with the kids. I love the community of bloggers that I know. BUT, I also really loved all the extra time not looking at a screen … and just being in the moment instead.
So, moms … how do YOU do it? How do you strike the balance between your family and your interests?
Laura Hutchison
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Love the list of all of the things that you did. I loved screen free time too! I have kept the screens off for the kids this week too and am trying to stick to only doing stuff online during naptime (and also not doing it the whole time)… I loved not checking my phone last week! I did realize that I can’t not look at email though, too many people don’t call anymore, they just email… so I missed some important stuff.
I love the screens off. I learned that my kids and I are much happier that way… except in the car on long rides. That almost killed me and I won’t keep that up.
I did discover that I have so many online interests now that some of my other interests have been forced out. That made me sad, and so I need to reconnect with some of them!!! I just need more time!