Step Away From the Screen

Did you know that April 18-24 is National Screen-Free Week? According to the website www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek this “is a national celebration where children, families, schools and communities spend seven days turning off entertainment screen media and turning on life. It’s a time to unplug and play, read, daydream, create, explore and spend more time with family and friends.”

I’m not sure that it would be called a “celebration” in my household but the idea of no screen time sounds idyllic – talking to each other instead of texting from across the room, remembering just what color your child’s eyes are, enjoying the beauty of a spring day. These are all things we miss when we are lost in our iPod, Facebook and NetFlix.

Also think of the time we lose when we get lost in technology. It is an enormous time-suck on our time. Can’t get everything on your to-do list done? Maybe you need to evaluate how much time you are spending on Facebook and Twitter or just surfing the web. Even just unplugging for a small amount of time can gain you some “found” time in your day.

I don’t know that I am going to completely unplug this week but I am certainly going to be more aware of the time I spend in front of the computer and the TV. Maybe I’ll just spend more time in front of another screen – my screen door! Want to join me?