07/04/2021
SANITY SCREEN SAVERS: Yup. Sometimes my sanity is Saved-by-the-screen - and guess what? Screens are great connectors too! Need positive Sanity Saving Screen Ideas?
👉First: Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting that screens replace all those connected parenting moments of play, reading, outdoor adventures.
However.. What I AM saying...
👉Is that 'Screen time' is really not inately bad or wrong or some form of 'reduced, lazy parenting'. Well timed and well managed screentime can have lots of benefits starting with just plain, old, simple calm time.
☝️Remember:
-SO many shows, films, games are created to be educational or create connected communities. I can't tell you how much this guy has learned from or !
-Kids need chill out time too. Yes, they can read books, do Lego or draw a picture, but sometimes watching a show or playing a quick game is so perfect to just veg out a bit - for us too!
-Kids connect via screens these days! We were dead set against him having a phone until secondary school. But guess what happened in his final year of priamry school? Ummm - a pandemic! Yeah - have you heard of this one? Suddenly the only replacement for playdates and park fun seemed to be building new Minecraft worlds and 'sussing' out the imposters Among Us (Which I have actually become quite a pro at too...).
-Screens sometimes save a parent's sanity. The kids might be fine and fabulous, but some days I'm just tired or stretched or in need of extra down time too. I think that's okay and there's no shame in letting everyone find a suitable screen adventure while I potter about or do finish something or check my own screen ...
So these are just a few of our quick Sanity Saving Screen Options (Age 7 and 12):
YouTubers we ❤️:
Games we ❤️: Among Us, Minecraft, Monument Valley, Sago Mini Friends, Zelda Breath of the Wild, MarioKart (Never old), Terarriah, Slither.IO
Shows we ❤️: Horrible Histories, Operation Ouch, Octonaughts (still love them!)
What have we missed?
Drop your ideas in the comments below - any age and stage welcome!