Screen Free Week! Share +

Posted by: coronadosafe 4 years, 7 months ago

published by Screen Free Week

"I saw my 9-year-old daughter laying on the floor, just day dreaming. I immediately thought, 'Oh no, she is bored, maybe she could...' then I stopped myself and just let her lay there. She wasn't bored, just deep in thought. We dont always have to be doing something!" - parent speaking about being screen-free

May 5-11: Screen-Free Week Everywhere

From California to New York—and places in between, organizers planned fun screen-free events. There was family fort building in Morton Grove, IL, live music after school in Montpelier, VT, and an evening of family friendly activities including 4-square, kickball, board games, gardening, and dancing in Bismarck, ND. Communities such as Irving, TX, Cambridge, MA, and Muscatine, IA hosted a screen-free event each day of the week.

Internationally, students in Brazil celebrated “Semana Sem Telas”; events were held in Australia, Canada, and the UK; and a mom in Singapore blogged about going screen-free with her family for the second year in a row.

Some of the things others enjoyed doing most during Screen-Free Week

  • Playing in the woods, picking dandelions, and gardening
  • Working on a sewing project
  • Remembering what it’s like to feel technology-free and enjoying the simple pleasures
  • Going to farmers’ markets
  • Reading outside 
  • Family Game Night
  • Telling old spooky ghost stories under the covers
  • Reading outside
  • Using our imaginations!

Making It Last

Screen-Free Week isn’t just about snubbing screens for seven days; it’s a springboard for important lifestyle changes that will improve well-being and quality of life all year round. If the week inspired you to make reducing screen time an ongoing reality, check out these resources and handouts:

  1. 10 Steps to Screen-Proofing Our Homes—From rearranging the furniture to setting limits, simple steps you can take to make your home less screen-centric.
  2. Family Meals: Let’s Bring Them Back—Why screen-free meals are so important.
  3. Working With Your School to Reduce Screen Time—What schools can do, from turning off Channel One to making reducing screen time a wellness priority.
  4. Tips for Families on Limiting Screen Time—Facts and tips for limiting screen time from Kaiser Permanente.
  5. Helping Babies Entertain Themselves Screen-Free: An Introduction—Screen-free ideas that encourage independent play!
  6. 3 brand-new “Play Plans” —Fun and easy springtime activities for the whole family from TRUCE (Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment).

Make sure you check out Screen-Free Week's website in order to learn more! CLICK HERE