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Summer is almost here, and the living is almost too easy, especially for the kids. Now the days can be uninterrupted swaths of Snapchat streaks, TikTok marathons, selfies, outfit checks, Fortnight, etc. The idea of summertime as one long uninterrupted screentime fest horrifies me—I’d rather spit into my hands and clap. But what can you do, when all of us are essentially left to our own devices?
It’s unrealistic to think we could box up all our phones, laptops and screens and completely
unplug from technology for the summer. Yet cutting down on screen use is not only possible, it’s doable.
A general rule of thumb is to prune whatever takes more away from you than it gives. For example, if scrolling
Instagram makes you feel stressed, and gives you a social media hangover, it’s a sign to cut back. There’s no one size fits all answer when it comes to healthy technology use. Here are six tips for helping to manage your kids—and your own—screentime.
How to get kids off screens this summer
Allow your screens to go dark
One of the biggest problems with technology is how pervasive it is. Scheduling time away from the screens is key to balance. Conveniently forget the phones when you take your kids out to lunch, on a walk, etc. For your kids, define specific times as tech-free, such as no screens after 8 p.m. or before 7 a.m., that you are also willing to adhere to. Allocate certain days as tech-free, like weekends or observe a digital sabbath once a week. You can also designate certain areas in your home as tech-free, such as the dining room, bedrooms or outdoor spaces.
Try: For the dream of a reduced-screen summer to succeed, you might need to discern between different kinds of screen usage. Watching a movie on Netflix as a family feels very different then each family member ensconced in their own room on their own device, watching something different. Allow for positive family screen interactions, such as watching a show or movie together, being a stage director for a reel or video, or playing online word games like Wordle.
Create a summer bucket list
Make a list of activities you want to do over the summer that don't involve screens. Make them fun, out-of-the-box, retro and even slightly wacky. Think bowling, roller-skating, gallery crawls and thrifting. Explore the next town over, learn to cook a signature dish, aim to get bulging forceps or teach your dog new, fun tricks.
Try: Hang your collective bucket list on your fridge or someplace easily visible. Check things off, add more items, and celebrate your bucket list victories.
Take it outside
Plan regular outings like picnics, beach trips, or hikes. If you have a yard, hang a hammock outside. Take up a new sport such as
pickleball, stand up paddleboarding or
birding.
Try: Being outside doesn’t have to mean extreme sports. Even just curling up in the shade with a book, cruising around town on a bike, and watching the sunset are all viable ways to enjoy the soothing
benefits of nature.
Get your social on, unmediated
Instead of social media, try being social the old-fashioned way, in real life, face to face. Seek out the company of friends and family and practice the dying art of conversation. Organize themed game nights or barbecues, or join local clubs and groups.
Try: Brush up on your conversational skills. To encourage deeper and more meaningful conversations, ask open-ended questions that allow for more than one-word answers. Ask questions starting with “why” and “how.” “How did you help somebody today,” for example, is a great ice breaker.
Sign your kids up for compelling classes or camps
Sign your children up for summer camps, sports teams or classes in areas they are drawn to like dance, art or science. When kids are engaged in something that sparks them, the impulse to turn to their phones will be significantly reduced. Often, the screen is simply a remedy for boredom.
Try: Search out a sleep-away camp that does not allow phones, just so your kids can have a taste on what that’s like. Sometimes the enforced no-screen ban, as long as everyone is in the same boat, comes as a surprising relief.
Incentivize heavily
Implement a system where kids are rewarded for being off-screen and completing certain tasks or engaging in physical activities. This can motivate them to have a more balanced approach to screen life.
Try: Ask them what reward they would like if they spend several hours away from screens. It could be as simple as an ice cream, an afternoon at the pool or, for an end of summer finale, a trip to an amusement park.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Featured Products" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="175361" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1716581128421{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/annies-organic-cheddar-bunnies-baked-snack-crackers"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="175360" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1716581144223{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/goodpop-organic-freezer-pops-variety"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="175359" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1716581164858{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/honest-kids-organic-juice-drink"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_text_separator title="DIY Summer Fun for Kids" border_width="2"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/4"][vc_basic_grid post_type="custom" element_width="12" gap="0" item="133170" grid_id="vc_gid:1716581187442-00b21efc-d4d7-10" custom_query="post_type=post&post_status=publish&posts_per_page=3&p=125516"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][vc_basic_grid post_type="custom" element_width="12" gap="0" item="133170" grid_id="vc_gid:1716581187467-6d8df234-a51a-3" custom_query="post_type=post&post_status=publish&posts_per_page=3&p=32109"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][vc_basic_grid post_type="custom" element_width="12" gap="0" item="133170" grid_id="vc_gid:1716581187486-23aa126d-8e6f-2" custom_query="post_type=post&post_status=publish&posts_per_page=3&p=118053"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/4"][vc_basic_grid post_type="custom" element_width="12" gap="0" item="133170" grid_id="vc_gid:1716581187509-7d6bd536-48cc-0" custom_query="post_type=post&post_status=publish&posts_per_page=3&p=93154"][/vc_column][/vc_row]
