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One of my goals for 2018 was to significantly reduce the amount of T.V time in our family. This inspiration came after I read the book, “The Tech-Wise Family” by Andy Crouch. While I’m not implementing everything in his book, one phrase or point stood out to me and that was, “We Create More Than We Consume”.
When I think back on my favorite play-time memories, I don’t really remember the shows I watched. Sure, I remember a few favorites that impacted me, but I’m more likely to think about the hours my sisters and I spent playing Sacagawea or pioneers. I remember the art classes that I loved and the Bible memorization team. I remember the weaving looms I took outside and the houses that I decorated.
I strongly believe that there’s a correlation between the things we pursue as children and the things we love as adults. Simply put, our natural talents are always there, sometimes it takes a little bit of cultivating as children to bring them out. For example, I spent hours writing in a journal, cooking, and organizing my Mom’s kitchen as a child. I still am highly organized and (big shocker!) I love writing and cooking.
I’m learning it takes work to reduce screen-time mainly because that time needs to be replaced with something else. Here are a few things that I’m doing with my sons instead of watching T.V:
- Make homemade playdough and cut out shapes using our favorite cookie cutters for kids
- Create a new recipe for my blog. (Fun fact: My kids are involved in the cooking of about 70% of recipes I publish!)
- Color pictures
- Clean an area of the house (They love my carpet shampooer!)
- Read a chapter in our latest read-aloud
- Play outside
- Make a blanket fort under the table
- Build Lego sculptures
- Race Hot-Wheel cars
- Finger paint
- Dance parties
- Make cards for special people in our town (Police, etc)
- Go to the library
- Go on a nature walk
- Exercise! We love doing Trim Healthy Mama’s Workins together!
- Play Spiderman Chutes and Ladders
- Do a seasonal photo shoot
- Play dress up
- Snuggle and drink hot cocoa
Those are just a few of the things that we’re doing more of. I can’t wait to see how this positive change impacts my kids!
How does your family handle screen time?
