We recently did a screen detox for our kids and couldn’t believe the outcome. As a result, we declared it a screen-free summer full of lots of fun activities!
A few weeks ago, I began to notice something in our house. Our younger children were more ambitious and debate than usual. It wasn’t just ordinary sibling arguments and exhaustion at the end of the day. The whole atmosphere of our home changed slowly and was not in a good way.
I thought they were just going through the phase, but after discussing with Jesse, we both decided to try a bit of experiment. What would happen if we did it Screen detox?
Now, listen to me before you roll your eyes or think I’m about to go out on the “Screen is the worst” rant. This is not about demonization technology. It was a small experiment in our family to see if reducing screen time and focusing more on screen-free activities for kids would help improve the atmosphere of our home.
The most difficult two weeks (but it’s worth it!)
I don’t sugar coat it: the first two weeks of screen detox were hard, mainly for me and Jesse. He didn’t realize how dependent he was on screen for the peace of the afternoon. I felt that I needed a short window of calm to get something done or just take my breath…until we gave up.
Suddenly, the kids felt like they needed constant ideas from me about what to do. “Mom, what can you do?” I asked. More time than I can count. And of course, more creative play created more confusion. Lego bricks on the floor, paper crafts on the table, and toy bins capsized in search of the perfect piece for the next piece. It was a bit confusing to say the least.
But then something surprising happened. For almost a night, our tone of voice began to change.
Less whining, more performance
To be honest, I didn’t think there would be any immediate differences. However, within days of starting screen detoxing for children, whining had diminished. Discussions about stupid things have stopped happening frequently. The morning was smooth. Even at bedtime it seemed more peaceful.
Our kids don’t have access to iPads or phones, but we had some daily shows that I found quite harmless. So, what hurts a show or two?
But it wasn’t until they took them away that they saw the difference.
Their creativity, which seemed almost dormant, suddenly came to life. They built on LEGO, made stories, and invented all sorts of games. They made lamps for toy cars, observed bugs, played for a long time, saw clouds, pretended to play a lot and pretended to!
Kierstyn and Micah gave all their toys “bath” in a bowl of water. I can’t remember that they stayed in the end, focusing on nothing without a screen.
Check out this list of over 50 screen-free activities for kids for fun ideas!
Declaring a screen-free summer
After seeing how their attitudes changed and how peaceful our times became, Jesse and I made the decision. This declares a (almost) screen-free summer.
We are not completely anti-screen. In fact, we spend two family movie nights a week, watching mild classic movies that seem to have no effect on the same effect as everyday TV time. There’s something different about slow family films and constant, bright, fast-paced shows that seem to overinspire more than just calm.
And this is not an eternal or judgment on anyone who loves their screen time. This is now working for our families, especially for younger children, and we can’t see them return to normal screens anytime soon.
psst!! Need help coming up with ideas for screen-free summer activities? Please download Free Summer Bucket List There are 100 ideas!
More confusion, more memories
I’m not going to lie. It takes more creativity to keep children entertained. I found myself pulling out old games, setting up art projects, and exploring the internet for new ideas. (Seriously, I definitely take them, so I’ll comment below on all your best screen-free play ideas!)
But here’s what I found: it’s worth it. Peace, laughter, creativity… it’s worth 100% of the extra effort and sometimes confusion.
After seeing how successful screen detox for kids was, I began setting better screen boundaries for myself. I’ve downloaded it Opal App To help me to be more careful about my screen time. Helping me to be present and focus on what matters most was a game changer. (And that’s one of the great reasons why I read fiction again and get more sleep!!)
what about you?
Have you ever tried going back to the screen? If so, what have you noticed? Was it difficult? Was it worth it?
I’d love to hear about your experiences. If you have any great ideas for screen-free activities for kids, drop them in the comments! We have the whole summer before us and I’m excited to see where this screen-free journey will take us.
This is more creative play, more calm days, and unplugged memories.
Related links:
- Over 50 Frugal Screen Free Activities for Kids
- Difficult truths learned from a month using the Opal app
- My Words for 2025: No plugs removed
- Why should you read aloud to your child
- How to excite your child with reading material
- A simple summer activity for kids is under $1!
- Try the Opal app for free for 30 days!
Free Summer Bucket List!!
100 creative ideas for simple fun with kids!
Source: Money Saving Mom® – moneysavingmom.com
