Like many things, there are positive and negative effects of screen time for all of us, and it can be hard to come up with that magic amount of time that should be spent interacting with a screen. We do know that too much time spent on screens can be detrimental to youth – they can experience sleep problems, lower grades in school, reading less, spending less time with family and friends, and can also lead to weight problems, mood problems, poor self-image and body image issues, fear of missing out and spending less time learning ways to relax and have fun!
So, what are some other alternatives we can all try to incorporate in our lives to replace some of that screen time?
- Outside activities: Research supports that more time spent outside in nature is good for our physical and mental health. Many activities like walking, biking, hiking, playing outdoor games or sports or even going on a scavenger hunt are good alternatives for staying inside and watching a screen.
- Inside activities: There are several ideas for doing something inside as a family including playing board games, reading books together, having a dance party, building a blanket/pillow fort, and even taking turns sharing stories.
- Volunteer activities: Many activities that can be done to volunteer or help others in some way are great for a person’s well-being and sense of purpose. Making care packages for a local shelter, picking up trash in the neighborhood, cleaning out closets and donating items to those in need, visiting with neighbors – especially those that are home bound, and even doing a random act of kindness for someone, are all great examples of activities that avoid screens and also positively impact other’s lives.
- Arts/crafts and productive activities: Creating items can be so satisfying – whether it is artwork or completing a puzzle. Additional activities in this area include drawing and painting, making jewelry, exercising together, cooking a new food dish, building with Legos, and even practicing relaxation techniques. These are all activities that are fun and also produce something nice to share and help provide a feeling of accomplishment.
Once family members get in the habit of doing other activities besides watching a screen, they will find they are spending more quality time together which benefits them all, especially youth.
For more information on the effects of screen time on children and for resources your family can use to create quality time together, check out the new website Smartphones, Smart Families You can also order a Survival Kit for your family to use.
Source: Smartphones, Smart Families website
Author: Cheri Burcham is responsible for family life programming in the counties of Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, Shelby and other parts of east central Illinois as needed. Cheri’s emphasis is on healthy lifestyles throughout the life span which include family relationships, communication, caregiving, stress management and human development with an emphasis on healthy aging. Her passion is to help people to be their best selves and to promote a healthier, independent older population. When Cheri is not engaged in Extension work, she can be found raising Monarch butterflies and spreading the word about their amazing life cycles and migration to anyone who will listen!