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Screen-Free Survival Tips for Parents
1. Engage your family (depending on their ages) in the decision-making to turn off the screens. Together, make a list of activities that all would enjoy. Choose some that require little or no preparation or planning, some that are more involved, some that are no cost and some that require some cost. (Review the suggestions for age-appropriate screen-free activities for ideas and look in the telephone book for events happening around Windsor-Essex). Post the list on the refrigerator or where it can be readily seen.
2. Sit quietly with a cup of tea and think about what you REALLY want to do before jumping into several activities and getting too busy.
3. Be patient. If you can live through 20 minutes of whining, your children WILL find something to do.
4. If your children are young, read a story to them or put on some music and dance. Get out the play dough, colouring books or puzzles. For older children, have family games that they or the family can play together. Go out for a family walk, ice skating, or tobogganing.
5. Send the children out to play.
6. Initially, your children will demand more of your time to keep them entertained, but eventually, they will learn to occupy themselves.
7. Don't worry if your children complain that they are bored. Boredom often leads to creativity and physically active play.
8. For family fun activities in Windsor-Essex County, check out these resources:
Source:
Suggestions for coping. (2001). Retrieved on July 6, 2005 from www.tvturnoff.org/brock10.htm