Spring is a Great Time to Change Screen Habits!
In our little corner of the world winter is wrapping up. Puddles are emerging. 40 degree days in Michigan mean we will be seeing shorts and t-shirts soon, as if our collective skin is parched for sunlight. If warmer weather is coming to your area then it is the perfect time to change your screen habits.
We are screen avoiders. It's not because I think screens are evil or because I think they hold no value. It's certainly not because I have some amazing routine filled with homemade hands-on activities planned throughout our day. It's solely because I get addicted. I get addicted to the quiet - the 22 minutes where I can rinse dishes while no one is screaming, or fighting, or talking to me about Pokemon characters. The 24 minutes where I can de-toy the kitchen in peace. So, the best path for me to keep us from losing childhood to screens is avoidance. In our family, we limit TV time to Friday nights - everyone gets to pick a cartoon. Within a year we average around 100 hours of TV time per year - which looks nice on paper since our outside time measures in around ten times more than that.
1000 hours is our ideal. We keep that routine most of the year - except for at the end of February when everyone starts to feel like they are going to implode from being in close quarters for the fourth month in a row. In February, we declare a few snow (or cold) days along with the local school districts and snuggle in from some movie time. We've also ridden out some days of the family yuckies with cartoons.
The problems with screen time is how quickly it becomes a habit. While good habits seem to take a while to institute it seems that bad habits can swoop right in, often without our permission, and they are strong.
A habit works like this:
First, there is a cue (screaming children, fighting children, crying toddler, meal needs cooked, laundry pile overflowing).
Then there is a routine (kids snuggle up on the floor in front of screen, parent goes about needed task).
Finally, there is a reward (meditative state for kid, peace and quiet/time to work for parent). Boom. Habit formed.
The easiest way to break a habit is to break the cycle and the easiest time to break the cycle of screen-time is at a season-change. For us, spring is unfolding. So when the cue arises (screaming children) we change our routine from a movie to a mud-puddle. All next week we have chunks of time blocked out for outside play. The reward will be similar for me - nature is the best place for peace and quiet. In this case, however, the reward doesn't come with the cost of wasted childhood. Instead of their little brains being on auto-pilot, their engagement level will become unsurpassed. In a surprisingly short period of time, my kids will replace the "Can we watch a movie?" question with the "Can we play outside question?"
Have you been wanting to break or change your family screen habits? If a new season is emerging for you then now is your time!
