Do you know what i’m tired of seeing? Children with their heads in a game consoles 24/7 & heads in their phones when they go out.
I’m going to sound super old now but when I was 10 years old, all I cared about was when I could get t the library to read my next Goosebumps book! I cringe when I see a 6 Year old with an IPhone, what’s wrong with toys? Yes, video gaming does have some good qualities in the form that it promotes good hand -eye coordination and strategy, but it also has it’s bad’s such as addictiveness and can lack in social skills. It all started when Craig’s “parents” bought him a console as a Christmas gift. Craig would play car games as a way to unwind after a long hard day at work. Then as Adam started to grow he wanted to take turns and it went on from there.
Craig and I got tired of video games in our house. It was all the boys thought about and talked about, all day, everyday. Our boys are really intelligent and I’m not just saying that because they are my children. I didn’t want to sit back and watch them lose a childhood all because they sat in the house on the latest console. We want them to experience the world and have a childhood that includes climbing trees and exploring the great outdoors. (We live on a farm, so there’s lots to keep a boys mind active). Craig and I sat down one night and brainstormed some ideas, and the one that suited our family the best was to put a complete ban on all video gaming, phones, tablets etc. on a couple of days per week. At first the boys didn’t like the idea as they had became addicted to sitting in the crouch position with eyeballs firmly glued to a screen. We had to deal with tantrums for the first few weeks, but now they don’t mind. In fact they probably spend even less time on screen time and more time outdoors.
We decided that we would enforce the ban on a Saturday, as we are usually out exploring anyway so it wouldn’t have been that much of a big deal, and a Wednesday, a day that is right in the middle, a day that they could just have a break from it all. Sunday is our Family day so we so we spend the day doing things together, it could be a movie day, baking, reading, board games, relax in the garden and play outdoor games or we could go to the local park and explore. They are allowed screens after tea time on a Sunday. We do break the rules if homework is involved.
I see so many posts on Facebook from friends who have constant issues with their child and how much screen time they are having.I don’t get involved in other parents issues because no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. I also have friends who child has Autism and a tablet is there ‘norm’. Different people have different circumstances and have different things that work for their family. It’s important that they have the time to do what kids did before all of these things were invented and use their own imagination.
Enforcing the screen ban was the best thing to do for our family and I am so glad that we decided to take action, before the full on teen stage hits our house.We have seen a huge difference in our boys, they are healthier and happier. What rules do you have in your house?How strictly do you enforce them and how well do they work?
Kelly x
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