Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/500151
28 Hudson Valley Parent
■
May 2015
in generating ideas for how to spend
this time, says Mauriello.
"Letting kids take the lead on find-
ing and even creating new activities
to do without screens encourages
creativity, while parent-led activity
encourages the same kind of passiv-
ity as the TV, which defeats part of
the purpose of going screen-free,"
she says. "Added bonus: less work
for parents!"
For older kids who might be really
struggling with (or even vocally re-
sentful of) going screen-free, parents
might suggest having the kids create
something for the medium they miss
the most.
"If it's TV the child is missing,
have them write the ideal TV show
that they'd want to watch — not
something that's already on TV,
but an entirely new show created
by them," Mauriello suggests. "If
they miss playing on the smart-
phone or tablet, have them draw
up a plan for creating the ideal app
that they'd love for that platform.
Though they're still thinking about
their beloved devices, in this way
they're also being creative rather
than passive consumers of media
made by someone else. And who
knows? Maybe they'll come up with
something really good that they can
actually sell or promote!"
What about work and school?
Both often require computer use,
and more and more, we rely on
screens to communicate. The official
Screen-Free Pledge reads: "Watch no
TV or DVDs, play no video or mobile
games, and only use the computer if
it's required for work [or school]."
You can download your copy of the
pledge at
screenfree.org.
Adapt the pledge to cover other
devices, like smart phones, or uses,
SWITCHING OFF
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