Writer and blogger, and mother of six children Molly Defrank knows firsthand how difficult it is to limit the time a child spends glued to a phone, tablet, TV or computer. Try to deprive a child of a favorite gadget — hysterics and whining cannot be avoided. In addition, you will have to switch his attention to something, and sometimes you want to be in peace and quiet while the kid is watching cartoons.
But Molly found a solution. One Saturday morning, she posted a touching photo where all her children had their noses in books instead of gadgets. In books! It looks implausible. «This is not a staged photo. Just a few months ago, my husband and I forbade children to use gadgets. Why? Because my precious kids behaved like demogorgons, and Mom doesn’t play like that.
At first, we tried to limit the children to an hour of screen time, but this was enough to drown out their creative potential, and even provoked them to fights and whining. We didn’t like it, so we literally «pulled the plug out of the socket.» At first, the children protested, but we steadily continued to insist on our own. I can’t believe it turned out to be so simple. Seriously, it feels like I got my kids back
.
I watched my children move from screen addiction to playing together. They even created their own «school». Of course, technology can be useful when used correctly. But after a short observation of the behavior of my children, it became clear to me that our family needs a technological detox. A few Saturdays after the «shutdown», my children saw us reading in bed with my husband in the morning. They immediately grabbed their books and joined us. Now they don’t bring iPads to the restaurant, but books. For seven months, my daughter’s reading level has noticeably increased,» the mother shared.
In an interview with Bored Panda’s, Defran stressed that it is now very easy to occupy a child by giving him a gadget or turning on a cartoon. According to the woman, the struggle with screen addiction was not so difficult:
«So, we told the kids at dinner that entertainment with gadgets no longer has a place in our house. After the tears and gnashing of teeth subsided, guess what? Everything became fine. What started as a thirty-day technical detox has become a realignment of our entire lifestyle. The abandonment of screens was strikingly easy and steady. After that, my nine-year-old daughter said several times that she was very glad of this refusal.» According to Molly, the children have learned to play together — finally! — and even on trips they take with them not tablets, as they once did, but books. Yes, and my mother benefited from such a detox.
«I began to better understand the talents and interests of my children,» Molly admitted. — Since they have much more free time, they develop their skills and creativity. My daughter began to read much faster and began to write stories herself. My son began to draw, and one day we even organized a family art evening, where he was a presenter and instructor. It is useful for children to be bored sometimes so that they can take the initiative and create.»
After the detox, Molly and her husband came to the following decision: they allow children to sit in front of a computer or TV for only an hour a week.
«They can choose a video game or a show that they will watch for no more than 60 minutes. That’s all. In the remaining time, children are more focused on the million opportunities that life offers. And no one complains.»
5 Simple Steps to Introduce a Screen Detox from Molly Defrank
Remove the screens from life for 30 days. And if the children have a «breakdown», then do not enter into negotiations.
Go to the bookstore or library. Help your child find his favorite genre in literature.
Make a list of free screen substitutes. This can be drawing, active games or housework.
Watch and watch again. Note what your children like and pay more attention to these activities.
Make a plan for the future. Decide in advance how much screen time will be allowed after a one-month ban.