Limiting the screen time we allow our two children is a difficult task.
The preschool and kindergarten use iPads extensively, as both teaching tools and as rewards for good behavior. As a result, our daughters would rather use an iPad than practice writing and drawing on paper. The youngest would rather watch a story than hold a book, but that is thankfully changing. The prevalence of screens at school goes beyond the computing devices, to include television.
Leap Frog episodes are shown in class, as are various PBS Kids shows. The Head Start class used exercise videos in class, too. The television-monitor in the Head Start room is a massive 120-inch smart-TV with touch-screen capabilities. It is impressive to a geek like me.
My wife and I know things are changing. People don’t use typewriters, for example, and taking notes often involves an iPad or even a smartphone. I use the phone for notes as often as my students, now. I like paper, but the phone is simply too convenient for quick notes. Writing increasingly occurs on digital platforms, even writing with a pen.
But, we want our children to play. They need to move about. They need to walk, march, skip, hop, and run. Both receive physical and occupational therapy for delayed motor development. The therapists have said the problem is getting worse, so they adamantly oppose any reductions in physical education time in the schools.
Our girls play soccer, which helps develop social skills and physical spatial-motor skills. Yet, along the sidelines parents and siblings taps away on their phones, glancing up at the games.
I’ve started to leave my phone in the car when we go to lunch or for walks. I need to demonstrate to our children that tech-obsessed daddy can survive for 30 minutes or more without a phone or tablet.
Last night, I explained that I leave the phone in the car because I want to focus my complete attention on family time.
“Wow. We must be really special,” the oldest said. “We’re better than a phone!”
Her observation was both funny and worrisome. Of course, they are more important to me than a phone. It’s my responsibility to teach them that all people are more important than devices.
We have one small television, which we limit to weekend family movies. We are no longer using iPad educational games.
I purchased a combination 4-in-1 game table for the girls, so they will move about and develop their hand-eye coordination. We plan family game nights and coloring afternoon.
We already read with and to the girls most nights before bed. They see mommy reading on the couch many nights. They also need to see how much daddy reads books, too.
Limiting the screen time will help the girls, but we know that we also need to be better examples.