Going screen free as a family has been a goal of mine for a long time. Don’t get me wrong, the occasional use of technology to connect with friends and family or to do schoolwork is great. But endless babysitting sessions from tablets or “Uncle TV” are less than ideal. Shortly after adding twins to our family this June, we started experiencing the chaos of constant screen usage again. It was a helpful tool for distraction while I was recovering postpartum, but it quickly turned into children acting addicted to screens and incapable of engaging in their own creative play.
Why We Chose to Go Screen Free as a Family
I’ve never been a parent who believes in entertaining bored children. I love to engage my children in what I am doing and offer ideas for good activities for them. However, I firmly believe that boredom is a good, healthy part of life. If we, as parents, can become comfortable with our children’s boredom, it can be a catalyst for creativity!
I recently read a quote about how, due to screens, there’s an entire generation of artists who will never pick up a paintbrush, inventors who will never create anything, athletes who will never play a sport, and zoologists who will never encounter animals… I firmly believe this saying holds weight. It was very plain to see in my own children that the more they were allowed to be on screens, the more they demanded screen time and the less interested they were in pursuing hobbies like art or learning about dinosaurs.
After another round of attitudes from one of our children who particularly struggles with impulse control, we decided to lock away the screens and encourage other activities. Now, just a couple of weeks later, they are thriving with creative play, and requesting stories and quality time together more than screens. We aren’t experiencing negative attitudes over electronics, and they are arguing less with one another.
How We Successfully Eliminated Screens as a Family
- Communicate Your Objectives with Your Kids
When going screen free as a family, we were extremely clear with our children about why we decided to lock away the screens. We wanted to ensure they understood that this was not a punishment. We also made sure they knew that we wanted them to rediscover the joy of creative play, enjoy time outdoors, and argue less with each other. They all understood, and even though they weren’t excited to give up screens, it helped them to know that no one was in trouble.
- Eliminate Access Completely
Don’t just say you are going screen free as a family—remove access to screens altogether! We locked away our children’s tablets in a location they couldn’t find, stored the TV remote out of reach. We ensured any schoolwork they needed to complete on tablets was done in our presence.
- Keep Your Device Usage In Check
I won’t tell you to go completely screen free, because if your life is anything like mine, it isn’t possible. I have work on a computer, help run a ministry on social media, and I am also breastfeeding twins countless hours throughout the day. Even a few hours each day where my phone is off helps to ensure I’m connecting in meaningful ways with my kids. They aren’t being asked to do something I’m unwilling to do myself.
- Be Intentional About Shared Screen Time
This is optional—you might decide to have no screens in your household whatsoever. Or, like us, you might still enjoy an intentional family movie night here and there. We’ve found that our kids handle having access to devices taken away best when they know there’s a family movie night to look forward to. We seek out an entertaining movie with a positive moral lesson—one we all can enjoy together! We pop popcorn, cuddle up, and enjoy two hours of intentional shared screen time.
- Provide Alternatives
Going from constant stimulation to no stimulation can be especially difficult for sensory-seeking kids. We’ve found that providing other forms of entertainment while they play with Magna-Tiles or draw can be helpful! I suggest downloading ebooks and playing entertaining stories for them. We particularly enjoy the Little House on the Prairie series! Additionally, we subscribe to the Adventures In Odyssey Club, which is an app from Focus on the Family. It has access to multiple stories and all episodes of Adventures in Odyssey. Our kids have begun to request this for long car rides and really enjoy listening to stories with great lessons!
The Benefits of Going Screen Free as a Family
Whether your goal is to eliminate screens completely or simply minimize their impact on your family. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the effect it has on your kids. We quickly found our kids engaging more in creative play, solving problems, and experiencing “normal” sibling squabbles less! Sibling rivalry, arguing around the clock, and constantly hearing the words “I’m bored” don’t have to be your normal!
Have you tried going screen free as a family? If so, what was your experience like? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below!
