Then we moved into a tiny home. While we were moving, all rules and time limits on electronics faded away and then while we got settled in I found myself letting all of that continue to slide. It's terrible. Here is the thing, electronics really effect my kids behavior. I mean really bad. They are more angry, they fight with each other more, they are more defiant and they don't want to do anything else. So a little over a week ago we started an electronic detox. I was really good for the first half of the week. I wasn't letting them have any time at all. We do a little bit of schoolwork on the computer so I did let them do that, but I sat next to them and did a lot of the interacting with the device. I really wanted to minimize their interaction with electronics. Of course though as the days went on I started to give in more. I am still restricting them greatly, but the last few days I have let them earn a little time.
I admit whole heartily that I am a major part of the problem. I home school my kids so I get absolutely no alone time. It's so hard not to give in just so I can get the dishes done or sit down and eat lunch by myself. When my kids have zero screen time they are either making huge messes or want my complete attention. We are trying really hard though to not fall into turning to our deices. It is definitely harder now that it gets dark shortly after 5:00 and the temperatures have turned colder. I have found that TV watching has less of an effect on them than the interactive devices. So we are trying to find shows to watch as a family and that does help. Another impact too much screen time has caused is that no one can entertain themselves. My kids complain all the time they are bored and then can not come up with anything to do. What's strange about that is I have always had a no screens in the car policy. Unless of course we are road tripping. However, lately they get in the car for more than five minutes and they think they are dying from boredom. That has been the biggest red flag that we have fallen into a terrible screen time habit.
So we are desperately trying to get back on track. It does take some strategic planning on my part and I have to realize that my time is now basically nonexistent. So here is what we are doing to get back on track. We tag team parent now more than ever. We switch off who does bedtime, because yes we still lay with our kids at night. Brian takes the kids out for daddy time more often. We do more field trips. I have a list of ideas for the kids to choose from when they can't think of their own.
Here are a few ideas I have come up with to help entertain the kids so they don't beg for electronics.
-We have play dough at the ready at all times
-I bought them each a sketch book and they can color and write in that
-I print out mazes or coloring pages for them to work on
-Lots of library books.
-When I can tell we are breaking down, we all go for a walk or to the park
-I read chapter books to them
-We play trivia games on Google Home
-Games, Games and more Games (Charlie could play board games all day)
Please comment if you have any tips or ideas for this. We don't have gaming systems and only have one TV. Our biggest problems are tablets and YouTube watching. I feel like we used to have a good balance for this, so we just need a little reprogramming to get ourselves out of the habit and hopefully we will be back on track.
Miles of Love,
Stacey
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I need to try some of these helps to break me from my phone☺
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