Unplug your life, more screen free world

We all know that we live on a Tech era, where everything is screen and kids ask for screens all day. I am impressed how my 5 year old knows more about my I pad that I do.

EASIER BUT NOT BETTER

The other night we went to have dinner with some friends. Benjamin decided he wanted to play with my phone instead of playing with the other kids. I refused (I hardly let my kids play on my phone. I let them use it when we are traveling, but they play their video games on the weekends.) He got so upset for me saying no that 40 minutes later he was still on my ear asking for the phone, screaming, throwing a tantrum. He even walked outside the restaurant and ran right out the street, to get my attention. I was so shocked, how can a simple stupid thing can manage to ruin our whole night out, but then I thought, well he just wants to be like me and I am on my phone a lot! Because of work, because of ‘necessity”, because of addiction! It sound horrible but it is true!

EVERY KID WISH

Every Christmas, Emiliano asks me for an I phone, and he claims that all his friends have one, and its hard to say no to him, thinking well every kid has one so why should he be different! And it’s actually very comfortable having them plugged on an electronic for hours at a time. But we all know the complications and side effects that this is creating for us. Now we see generations where the kids don’t know how to play outside, with toys, with actual friends, they don’t know how to interact with other human beings.

SUGGESTIONS

So here is my suggestion: I know we won’t unplug our whole lives, but we can start doing little things, everything helps. Here are some tips on how to cut back on our plugged hours.

•lead by example (teach what you preach).

•Establish tech free zones. (on the bedrooms, on the table, etc.)

• Set tech free hours (you can say from 5-7 no one touches a screen, and you can use this time to play outside, talk to each other, etc)

• Carry toys, coloring books, playing cards to restaurants, maintain your kids occupied with other activities, so they don’t ask for the screen, every time you go out.

Go outside, leave your phone inside and just go out with your kids. Walk, play, run, color on the pavement.  Or just sit down and watch your neighbors pass by! You will be impressed how fast you will make your kids open up to you.

• Whenever you can use your computer instead of your phone, and teach your kids to do the same.

Best of luck as you attempt to make strides to unplug a little more each day!

XOXO

Ana

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