Limiting Screen Time Wrap Up

There are times when a mother needs to use screen time as a tool. When I was ill with severe morning sickness last year, the screen kept everyone centralized, contained and safe. 

This summer has been a different scene: I'm no longer too weak to walk to the mailbox! It was time to rein the screen time in. I'm pleased to announce that our limiting screen time project has been a grand success! Four days ago, I quietly removed the lap top from the play room and hid it. I thought it would create pandemonium but it was almost a non-event! 

There is so much childhood creativity that I did not capture in this little 40 day photo essay. My firstborn spent an entire day fixing up an old bike with his cousin, the kids have built ramps and staged puppet shows for company.We've had a few sock-folding parties and many long country walks together. There has been a lot of exploring, a lot of discovery, ample quiet time to day-dream and engage in the world of make-believe. Screen-time is not all-bad, but I wanted to prevent it from sucking the magic out of real life childhood experiences for my kids. 

School starts soon and our new house rule is: 

"No screen time during the week -- a little on the weekends (just like pop)."

p.s. I just read this post to my daughter and she said. "Mom! What about the water balloon fights! You forgot the water balloon fights!" Apparently this was her favorite summer activity -- but my camera is not water-proof!