If you’re like me, you worry whether your kids are overdoing the screen time. You guiltily give in when they beg for youTube just seconds after they finished bingeing on their favorite cartoon for an hour. You download math apps, or morning routine timers, or video content from jw.org meant to teach spirituality, manners and morals, and hope that the good they get from their screen time outweighs the bad.
But it’s not just the kids. Your husband crashes on the couch after a long day of work and channel surfs for a while to chill out. You can’t be parted from your smart phone for more than a few minutes because you might miss a new post on your favorite social media or a like or comment on one of your own posts. We live in a world dominated by screens whether we like it or not.
If you’re like me you also wonder, what can I do to give my kids the kind of childhood that fosters curiosity, imagination, exploration? There are countless blogs about the 8 best educational apps or the 10 best parenting books, or the 30 best vacation locations, or the 12 most popular toys. Don’t get me wrong, I read those and pin them all the time. But this blog is not about a quick fix, with a catchy photo you can pin. It’s about the kind of drive for life that makes anyone happy, young or old. The kind of thinking that gets us off our couch and out of our devices and lets us live our life.
Ironically one of those blogs that I pinned to my Pinterest board led me to a book which led me to crystalizing this thought that means so much to me. In the book “The Science of Parenting” by Margot Sunderland, I learned that “the lower brain contains a SEEKING system, one of the seven genetically ingrained systems in the brain. . . In humans, the SEEKING system can activate an appetite for life, an energy to explore the new, and an eagerness to seek out the fruits of the world. It also stimulates curiosity or intense interest in something and the sustained motivation and directed sense of purpose that help us to achieve our goals. . .The SEEKING system is like a muscle-the more you use it, the more it will work for you.”
Exploration and curiosity can die at any age if we ignore it. Don’t go through life exchanging momentary pleasure for deep seated joy and satisfaction. And this thought extends on into everlasting life. What will we do for eternity if we don’t have a well developed seeking system?
So what can change this spiral into screen induced laziness? I have made it a goal to get myself and my kids out of doors at least once a day. I am trying to stop the endless multitasking going on in my brain and focus on my child, relative, or friend wholly and undividedly when they talk to me. I need to not stop the littles when they squish in the mud and scatter their dolls and paraphernalia all over the living room. Shutting their brain off is not worth the momentary peace, quiet, and cleanliness it causes.
Instead of being frustrated and annoyed when they want screen time, I am trying to set clear limits and stick to them. Then, not only do they get to enjoy their screen time guilt free, so do I!
As for myself, I’m exploring new ideas and creative outlets. This blog for example! I hope my journey can help readers like you find a new zest for life. Find what makes you happy, and go for it! Stand up and live your life. Just be sure to like and share and comment first 😉
Stand Up and Live Your Life 
I love ur blog. I found it inspiring. I think to many people get in a rut and never realize all the things they are missing. Here’s to new and exciting thing. Thanks for the inspiration.
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Isn’t it interesting how the very technology designed to make our lives simpler, faster, and more convenient can so often feel like a ball and chain? I love your point about embracing the chaos that is life at home in order to preserve “real life” experience. Brilliant!
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Thank you for reading and liking my point of view. I have really noticed an improvement in my mood since consciously making this effort to live life instead of just watching it. I hope the same for you.
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I fasted from most electronics in January and regained my time. I hadn’t realized how much time I spend on social media until leaving it behind for a month – or how much I relied on it for communication and learning about local events. I found through a book entitled “Hands Free Mama” some very good tips and have been exercising them throughout February to ensure I don’t get sucked into a culture attached to the screen. I want to still develop great relationships and have a family who thrives on time together, away from electronics. Best wishes in your quest to do the same with your family. Thank you for sharing this and welcome to the blogging world! ~Shell
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I had never heard about fasting from technology until a relative of mine fasted from social media for a month. I haven’t asked her how it went, I will. I do believe electronics can be a tool for the good if kept in their place, but that’s the challenge isn’t it? Thanks for your well wishes and welcome!
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I think it depends on what your level of interaction is with it. Since I use it for work and personal use, I am on it quite a bit. Fasting it meant I opened up a lot of time with the Lord versus if I gave up food I would be sporadic since my schedule at the time didn’t allow for three meals a day. Interestingly, fasting from social media made me realize I HAVE time in my life to stop and eat breakfast and lunch instead of living on snacks and dinner, so I am actually healthier and lost weight in the process. It’s funny sometimes the connections things will make that we don’t even know are connections. Have a great weekend!
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