The Screen-Free Summer Challenge

Are you looking to connect more with your spouse and children? Are you looking to slow down, be present, and make core memories with your family that will last a lifetime? Do you need to change habits in your household and detox your children from excessive screen time? Do your children have emotional outbursts or behavior issues when you turn the TV off or take their tablet away? If your answer is yes to any of these questions then this blog post is for you! We invite you to join us for The Screen Free Summer Challenge!

Here is How it Works:

Step 1: Define Your Screen Boundaries

• First, you need to define what Screen Free means to your family. For my kids, it means NO TV at home.  For me, it means no doom scrolling while I’m with my kids and if I have to be on my phone, I narrate what I’m doing so my kids know I’m not ignoring them (ex: ordering groceries). The only exception is if somebody is sick. We have found that it’s nearly impossible to avoid screens when out and about, so we allow the kids to watch TV if it’s on in places like the doctor's office waiting room, dentist, etc. Our kids do not have tablets or video games so that is not an issue for us. It is VERY important to make sure your spouse is on the same page!!

• Decide how long you are going to commit to being screen free. The first time we did a screen free challenge, we started with just one month.. but the benefits were so profound that we kept with it for 4 months before we turned on the TV again. Knowing that there is an end date and that this is temporary helps you mentally push through when you are tempted. This time around, we are committing to being screen-free for the months of June and July!

• Lastly, you need to communicate what the challenge is all about, why you are doing it, and how long you will be doing it, no matter how old your kids are. Also, it is HIGHLY encouraged to do the next two steps WITH your family!

Step 2: Make a Summer Bucket List

This is the fun part! Sit down with your family, grab a pen and a piece of paper, and make a list of all the fun things you want to do over the summer! Then, tackle that list throughout the summer and let your kids cross off completed items. I highly recommend getting out of the house at least once a day, even if it is as simple as going to a playground and having a picnic at the park. Here are some Summer Bucket List ideas:

• Go camping

• Go on a hike

• Go to a beach or lake

• Visit a museum and/or zoo

• Try a new recipe

• Make homemade ice cream

• Go swimming

• Go to a splash pad or water park

• Try out a new playground

• Set up a lemonade stand

• Go to a library story time

• Have a water balloon fight

• Go to a farmers market

• Go roller skating at a roller rink

• Go rock climbing

• Ride bikes on a bike trail

• Go bowling

• Have a picnic

• Visit a state or National park

• Set up a slip ‘n slide

• Make a bird house or bird feeder

• Nature Scavenger Hunt

• Do a science experiment

• Make a Time Capsule

• Set up a play date

• Go fishing

• Learn a new sport

Step 3: Create Jar of Boredom Busters

Write activities that they can do independently or with siblings on popsicle sticks or small pieces of paper, put them in a jar, and when your kid says “I’m bored,” have them draw an activity from the Boredom Busters Jar. It is AMAZING what kids will come up with on their own when they are bored, but sometimes they just need a prompt to get started. Here are some ideas:

• Puzzle

• Board game

• Craft

• Sensory bin

• Play doh

• Kinetic Sand

• Read a book

• Coloring book

• Listen to story on Yoto player

• Listen to music

• Dance Party

• Paint rocks

• Write a song

• Legos

• Magna-tiles

• Create obstacle course

• Mail letter to grandparents

• Sidewalk chalk

• Bubbles

• Play Keepy-Uppie

  
  

  Having an environment that encourages activity and outdoor play is very helpful as well! Check out this blog post with our Top 20 Outdoor Toys for Kids!

  
  

  

  
  

Step 4: Prepare for Transition

If screens have been a part of your family’s rhythm for some time, know that breaking from this habit will most likely come with some resistance and whining. Hang in there though, it may take just a few days or it could take a couple weeks, but eventually your kids will adapt! Their brains will literally be detoxing and be re-wiring neuron pathways (and so will yours). Our toughest habits to break were the “transition periods” when we came home from an outing tired and hungry.. I use to just put the TV on while I prepared lunch or dinner to calm any meltdowns, but I found that either having an activity ready to pull out (or send them to the boredom buster jar) eased that transition period.

Also, staying ahead of the game with prepared food would always help.. check out this blog post called Simple Strategies for Serving Nourishing Meals to your Family for ideas!

Step 5: Enjoy Your Family Like Never Before

Implement steps 1-4 and ENJOY being present with your family! Let us know any positive outcomes you experience!

Troubleshooting- If you find yourself tempted to go back to old habits at any point through out the challenge, remind yourself of WHY you are doing this! Listen to podcasts and read books about the importance of a digital detox to keep yourself motivated. Here are a few of my favorites:

• The Opt Out Family

• 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

• The Aro Podcast

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