Our Screen-free day
We did it! We had our screen-free day and turned all the screens off for 24 hours. We put aside modern society for a day to remember the basics of family life. It was quite refreshing. The house felt quieter (despite the children’s noise), slower. We entertained ourselves, rather than letting technology entertain us. We talked, we played, we had fun.
Before we started this, we explained to the children about having a screen-free day, that there would be no television, no computers, phones etc. We were to spend good quality family time.
Here is what we got up to…..
Our screen-free day
Now, I don’t know about you, but first thing in the morning with little ones can be tough, especially when they are early risers. For this reason, after breakfast was free play. All three children chose a jigsaw, sat down and worked side by side, with BB helping his sisters out when needed, it was quite comforting to watch siblings encouraging and supporting each other.
As a family, we place a large emphasis on the importance of sitting down eating a meal together. Therefore, we decided to all cook the dinner as a family. Daddy taught the children about roasting a chicken, while everyone helped make the marinade to go on it. The kids were captivated learning about the chicken, how you cook it etc and asked loads of questions. Children can be so inquisitive.
The vegetables got peeled and chopped by all the children. Mummy and daddy’s hearts were in their mouths during this, as the girls got rather excited with being given grown up tasks to do with knives!! (under very close supervision!). BB became quite an expert at peeling and was rather proud of himself at how fast he managed it. We had a fantastic production line going.
Once the main meal was prepared and in the oven, we started on the pudding…..’apple scrumble’. It’s actually apple crumble, but one of my girls once called it apple scrumble, we liked it, so it stuck. Everyone peeled and chopped apples, then got their hands messy rubbing in the butter and flour. That is always a winning activity with my children.
Once it was all cooked, we sat down at the table together to eat our lovely meal, we had all prepared.
After our delicious dinner, it was time for some fresh air, so out came the scooters and off we went for a local walk. The children scooted (most of the way). We went through the park, through some puddles and they enjoyed racing each other along the paths.
It is amazing, no matter how many times you do something, children always seem to find something different. BB got off his scooter and became very excited, saying he’d found a den. He spent ages investigating the area, using his imagination, envisaging how wonderful it could be. I must admit, I was struggling to see his vision myself, but hey, if he sees it as a den, great!
The girls became excited picking daisies. I couldn’t believe it, picking daisies in January! This was not the sort of walk I had predicted it to be, but that’s the most amazing thing about children, everything turns out different….variety is the spice of life as they say.
Next, was our family challenge. I had been saving up toilet roll and other tubes for a while with the idea to make a marble run. I thought this would be something we could all do together.
We had lots of fun trying to achieve a working marble run. Daddy over engineered his one, took ages to set it up, while mummy stuck to nice and simple, took only a few minutes to make and lasted the longest (Yes!! Not that I’m competing of course?!). The children (and grown ups) spent some considerable time playing with them. You can read more about the marble run fun here.
There was more outdoor play in the garden before tea. Lots of laughter, giggles and chatting was heard.
We thought we’d introduce the children to a family game of jenga. We hadn’t played it for a long time. I had forgotten how much fun it is. The children managed it surprisingly well, with the little ones only needing a small amount of help. It is definitely a game we will get out to play as a family again.
Lastly, we always like to end the day with a story. We all sat on cushions on the floor under a blanket, snuggled up tight reading a few stories together before bed.
It was a very pleasant day, embracing family life.
I would highly recommend having a screen-free day, we will be hoping to undertake this three or four times a year now. We like to be reminded of the important things in life, slow down and focus on family and children.
It looks like you all had a really lovely day. We’re going to try and do no screens days regularly too
x
Fantastic. It’s a good thing to do to remind ourselves of important things x
What a great sounding day you had. Did you find it surprising how easy it was to fill the day?
It was surprising how much more we could do in a day and that we didn’t get bored!
Great! I’ll join you next time
Ooh, please do!
What a great day you had! Well done for completing 24 hours screen free. Thanks for linking up with #familyphotofriday
Thank you, we did all have a good day
I loved reading this post and it’s really nice to see family time in action! I love the idea of a screen free day and definately helping cook dinner! I can’t wait til my little one is old enough to join in with activities like these. Fab post!
x
Thank you, a screen-free day every so often is definitely worth doing
Looks like a really lovely day! Well done xx
Thank you x
Love all the family photos. They are great!!! Looks like a fun packed day. I think it’s important to spend quality time without all the technology these days. Even though I am guilty at relying on it more than most in my household. I am trying to put down the iphone more and count every moment together. They don’t stay little forever.
Very true, they will be grown in a flash
I know I hate that it goes so fast. Makes me sad like I can’t capture every moment, long enough.
Yes, I do like to capture family moments before they’re gone
Well done, looks like you had a great day! We were going to do it but the kids aren’t the biggest fans of screens most of the time anyway it would have been more for me! But I had my dissertation and some other things to do so not possible this year! Very interesting reading the posts about it though! x
Thank you. Maybe try another time that’s more convenient for you x
Well done, sounds like you had a great day. I meant to do this, but had a lay in and when I got up my kids were already downstairs watching TV! Whoops.#pocolo
Oops, maybe another time?
Looks like you had a lovely day!
It was, thank you
Looks like you had a fantastic day!!
Was fab thanks
well done you! we have done this a few times. they actually enjoy it!
Yes, the thought of it is hard, but it is actually quite easy and refreshing
Looks like great fun was had by all #CountryKids
We all
Had a great time thanks
Lots of fun! #CountryKids
Lots
Looks like you had a wonderful day of family time!
We did have a lovely time
What an achievement in this modern day of technology! It looks like you had a full day of quality family time and fun, not sure I’d manage a whole day with the teenagers though! Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
Ah, yes, teenagers would be a lot more difficult to crack
What a great idea. We constantly at a battle with technology, more from other people because we limit the amount my daughter has use of T.V., phones, computers etc. Very brave to dedicate a day without the use of technology. Just found your blog and will be reading future post.
Thank you, I believe it’s important to remember the basics in this modern world
Well done to all of you for making it happen! My boys were very much against it, so we ended up not doing it, but your day looks really fab!
#PoCoLo
Ah, maybe another time….in the summer maybe?
Wow! It looks – and sounds – like you guys had an awesome day! We didn’t stick to it quite as religiously I’m afraid but I am taking complete inspiration from you about teaching the kids about roasting chicken and making the dinner. Thank you for linking to PoCoLo x
Ah yes, the chicken, the kids absolutely loved it!
Very impressive! It looks like you had a lot of fun. My kids would find it very hard to be without the telly and I must admit I’d struggle without the internet – both phone and laptop. Popping over from Magic Moments.
I think my kids were the least affected by no screens, it was harder for us parents
I love the idea of this! We have started doing more crafts and jigsaws – but I’ve not tried cooking with Little Z. I have grand plans to make cupcakes with him tomorrow
Hope you enjoy the cupcakes
This is such a good idea. Boy has quickly become addicted to his tablet, wii and the TV (all things we’d swear we’d never let happen)….and we try to have times when all such devices are barred (to be fair we are both offenders too).One of the things he does love is to cook and I can see making Sunday lunch as a family might well be something he’d relish, so will give it a go! Dropping in from #magicmoments.
I think its important to have screen free time – and let the little ones use their imaginations too! #whatsthestory
What a great day this looks like for all of you, wholesome family fun and a chance to make some lovely memories! We regularly go tv-free but I need to identify a day to go totally screen free I think! #magicmoments
Give it a try, it’s really refreshing
What a great post Karen, sounds like you had the best day with no screens. I love that you were all helping each other with lunch. And daisies in January on your walk – wow! Thanks for sharing with #whatsthestory, lovely post
Thank you, the daisies in january were rather strange!
Beautiful pics and so important to turn off the tv and get outside or bake and have fun!
Thanks x
What a lovely refreshing post, we are a family who have so much technology (my OH is a bit of a techy one!) so think I may have to give this a try! #maigcmoments
It is definitely worth giving it a go and it’s not as hard as you think
What an absolutely fantastic idea! i love it and will have to give this ago!
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments
It’s definitely worth a try, it’s not as difficult as you may think….quite refreshing
TV is more of a background than a focal point in our household but it is what it is technology that you have to sit down to to watch. I love the idea that you are doing here. Makes me think of TV and life without it.
#beinspired
Thank you