Postponing Screen time and why we did it.

At the beginning of 2024 I really started to listen to podcasts. I listened to some about being a mother, some about homesteading, and some random ones that sounded good. I was on my way to work one day listening to a homesteading podcast. The name of this podcast is “Old Fashioned on Purpose”. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone that is interested in homesteading, homeschooling, and doing things the old fashioned way. The specific podcast that I was listening to was about something that she had taught her children. She had taught them how to be creative!

Most parents would think, my kids are already creative!

I on the other hand did not think like that. I thought about my kids and my childhood as I was growing up. Things are so different now. I was born in the early 90’s, this means that I am one of those adults that had the best of both worlds. We knew to play outside and use our imaginations. We didn’t come into the house to ask to watch tv or play video games like the kids these days do. I was pretty much an only child majority of my life. I had to learn to entertain and play by myself. I did not have a choice. On top of that from the time I was 9 we lived outside of town on a small acreage. I did not have friends just down the block I could play with.

Don’t get me wrong, we watched tv and played video games but not like kids today. As I watch my kids grow up I see how different that act compared to what I grew up with. I know they always say don’t compare raising your own children to the way you were raised. Some of this I believe but also I feel deep down inside there is a reason we used our imagination, play outside and made the best of it without electronics.

Once streaming came along everything changed. Kids did not have to sit through commercials. I for one thinks that this helped the previous generations learn about patience. I don’t have great patience but I do have some. Kids now have the luxury of pretty much choosing from thousands of things to watch, this includes different shows from different channels, different genres, and they can even watch the same movies and/or episodes on repeat. They get ahold of that power and they run with it. At least my kids did.

What Flipped the Switch for Me?

As I was watching my kids I started noticing small things that I had overlooked before. The first thing I noticed was It was never enough. They always wanted more after they had watched tv for hours. They wanted more tv, to play video games, or to play on a tablet. Sometimes they would want to physically go somewhere like the inflatable park near us, the pool or to make slime. Now keep in mind these requests that they were making always seemed to be at night, right when it was close to bedtime. I like to do memorable things with my kids and take them places, but honestly I could never surprise them because they were always asking for everything. It took the fun out of it for James and I.

The second thing I noticed is they were each lacking common skills that I feel each kid should have. For one, problem solving was a big one. When they would play video games they could never figure out how to get passed something in the game, or when it was time for them to pass the controller they were always fighting and could never problem solve. This also led into lack of team work. They had no sense of team work. This is stuff that I have always worked on teaching them, whether it was with sports, baking, crafting, or games. They just could not figure it out. Also having twins you kind of think they will do great things together. Well I tell you what, that was an eye opener to realize they fight more than they do with the other siblings.

The last thing I noticed was the lack of Imagination. My oldest is so creative when it comes to art. She can draw, paint, and create things out of nothing. As soon as there was an opportunity to get on an electronic she would stop, drop everything and just give up on whatever she was working on. One of the twins was the only one who had any imagination. The only thing he would ever pretend play though was being a cowboy! He is bound and determined to be a cowboy one day. Anything passed being a cowboy the imagination was gone. His twin was the most dependent. He would always need either James, myself or one of his siblings with him as he played but even then they really had no idea how to play or pretend.

I Should’ve Been A Cowboy! – Toby Keith

I found out my oldest did not realize how to play with barbies and I knew it was time to do something. She kept asking for them for Christmas and birthdays but I never saw her play with them so I just assumed she did not like it. Well I was wrong and I did teach her how.

Sharing my decision with my family.

When I decided to do this I spoke with James first. Instantly he was on board and backed me up 100% with no questions asked. When we told the kids about our decision I thought they were going to have a meltdown. My oldest was just appalled and the oldest twin was not happy either. We told them that we would do a minimum of 30 days. We thought this was the perfect time to try this out. Spring was coming and the snow was melting. It was starting to get warmer out and we were able to put up the trampoline. Life saver by the way! I will say the first day wasn’t the easiest but it wasn’t unbearable. Given all the chaos that is present in my life. I might have just added in a whole lot more!