In all truth, I had a rough morning. Amidst the chaos, I think I'm trying to find my own way of being helpful, and, in doing so, got swept up in many directions. So, after a morning of tears and recovery, I decided we just needed to get outside. The Simplest LessonOur lesson today was so simple.
Bark RubbingBark rubbing is very straightforward:
Nature JournalingOnce we got home, we spent 30 minutes writing in our journals. Penny mostly drew pictures of the things she found and what all she did with her stick. I responded to a prompt from my journal reflecting on the wisdom of a river. We shared our journal entries with one another and with dad. If you don't have access to a nature journal, it's a very simple concept, and it is accessible to children of all ages (well, as soon as they can grasp a crayon). Give your child a piece of paper and some colored pencils, and say: "Write about / draw a picture of what you saw in nature today." You will learn so much about their interests and preferences by what they answer. How We're Handling Screen TimeAfter nature journaling, Penny had her first (likely of many...) Facetime playdate with a good friend from school. We are strong proponents of limited screen time in our home so I thought I would share about our family's evolutionary relationship with screen time and our new position during social isolation. Our current screen time rule: In our home, Penny can watch one show or movie a month (usually on a holiday). However, when she's over with friends or with grandparents, we loosen our grip. We came to this after trial and error. For the longest time, we allowed TV on weekends, but we were so frustrated that Penny struggled to get into independent play. As soon as Thursday would roll around she would start talking about watching TV over the weekend. This was rather displeasing. So, we made an adjustment. We had a screen-free month in January, and since then we have been doing one TV time each month. It has been amazing! Like, parenting life changing. Penny plays in her room for hours on the weekends. She seeks out projects she's never thought of before. She is more excited to play outside and see friends. This was absolutely the right move for our family. Ready to be Flexible We're prepared to make some changes to accommodate the new situation. With her no longer in school 3 days a week, my husband and I both working from home, caring for a new baby, and the general close proximity all the time, we will make an adjustment to our plan.
Word to the WiseMy work in parent education has shown me that there are so many ways to create a healthy relationship with the screen. I want to be clear that what I am choosing for my family may not be right for your family. That's OK. That being said, I want to encourage parents to be active in limit setting around the screen. The screen is alluring. It is going to try and convince you it is educational and important and relevant. It truly is not. Your child will learn more from watching you cook dinner than they will from watching someone read a book out loud to them. I just encourage you to be intentional. Here are my considerations in limit setting around the screen:
Final IdeasSo you want to heed my advice about screen time? COOL! YAY! But then... reality! Life with kids! At home! ALL. THE. TIME. Here are some other ways to use tech without a screen:
I'd love to hear more ideas on how to use technology without a screen for kids! Or share some other fun, easy adventures you've done outside with your kids.
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AuthorEmily Barstad ArchivesCategories |