If you desire to replace screen time with family time in your home, but wonder if it’s possible, you’re not alone. An increasing number of families feel a deep desire to increase goodness and beauty in their lives by limiting, or altogether removing, screens from their homes. The good news is that it’s not only possible, but it’s proven to be life changing in the most remarkable ways.

family activity photos — Image via Author

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Our Story

When my oldest daughter was four-years-old, our family made the decision to get rid of all our battery-operated and electric toys. We also got rid of our television. That meant no more Barney or Sesame Street. Instead, we spent our days doing the following:

having tea parties
playing dress up
building wooden train tracks
making mud pies in the backyard
playing board games
baking cookies
building with blocks
putting together puzzles
going on long walks
doing art projects
reading books
building blanket forts
creating puppet shows
playing the piano
learning about our ancestors
doing “stations” at the kitchen table
playing with friends at the park
creating new family traditions
filling long car trips with stories and conversation

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Shakespeare, Leonardo Da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln never saw a movie, heard a radio or looked at television. They had loneliness and knew what to do with it. They were not afraid of being lonely because they knew that was when the creative mood in them would work.

Carl sandberg

Priceless Family Memories

Today, with a dozen photo albums filled with priceless family memories, I’m reminded that getting rid of our electronic toys and television fifteen years ago was one of the best decisions ever made by our family.

Some say it’s not possible to raise children today without electronics.

I’m here to tell you, it is.

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The Teenage Years

note

I relied on the promptings I received when making decisions on how best to raise my family. After which, I took time to determine the foundational principles that were most important to our family. I considered what actions would be required to receive the results we desired. I encourage you to rely on your own promptings and foundational principles, as every family and every situation is different.

Throughout their teen years, our home was mostly technology-free, with the exception of educational learning and an occasional family-friendly movie, which we would enjoy together.

We chose to watch inspirational and historical-based movies; no animation or Disney.

Reading actual books, both individually and aloud as a family, became a daily activity. We played board games, spent time outdoors, hosted countless gatherings with friends and neighbors, and so much more.

What about free time? It was my hope that my “teens” would use their imaginations to fill their free time with activities that would educate and uplift, inspire and strengthen, and this is exactly what happened.

We had no kindles or iPads, laptops or smartphones. We had no video games. Even I had only recently (and reluctantly) exchanged my internet-free flip phone for an Android.

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Confidence

Have I spent countless hours worrying that I might “ruin” my children with my parenting choices? Yes, of course! COUNTLESS hours.

But now that my children are older and are preparing to leave home, I can say with 100% certainty that I have not ruined my children.

I can say with complete confidence that I would do it all over again if given the chance. I can’t wait to make similar technology-free memories with my grandchildren in the future.

My children are different. There’s no doubt about it. Our family is different. But we are different in good and happy ways. And who wouldn’t want that?

Decide what you want most for your family, then go make it happen. Plant the seeds today. It’s hard work, but the harvest you will reap in a coming day will make every sacrifice worth it.

Need help creating healthy technology habits in your home? Check out these recommended family-friendly resources.

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Quotes

“Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of genius of each.”

Plato

“By far the most valuable part of education is carried on in the family.”

Charlotte Mason, School Education, p. 94

“…education commences with the mother, and the child in connection…The duty of the mother is to watch over her children, and give them their early education, for impressions received in infancy are lasting…Children have all confidence in their mothers; and if mothers would take proper pains, they can instill into the hearts of their children what they please.”

Brigham Young, 6 April 1852, General Conference

“Our education must never stop. If it ends a the door of the classroom on graduation day, we will fail. And we will need the help of heaven to know which of the myriad things we could study we would most wisely learn. We cannot waste time entertaining ourselves when we have the chance to read or to listen to whatever will help us learn what is true and useful. Insatiable curiosity will be our hallmark.”

Henry B. Eyeing

“We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives.”

Dallin H. Oaks, Good Better Best, November 2007