As I sat my toddler in front of my iPad playing My Very First App, in order to prepare a healthy, non-processed puree of foods for my infant, I remembered that this was declared screen-free week. The blog I read that alerted me to this fact was titled, “Will You Challenge Your Kids to Participate?”
If I had the luxury of time, or a live in nanny, I would challenge myself to make my kids participate. But here’s my reality: full-time job, 7-month old, no sleep, part-time breastfeeder, active 2-year old, pick-ups, drop-offs, grocery shopping, yard work, bills etc. Sometimes we need breaks, or moments to give our infants undivided attention while they dangerously bathe in a plastic tub where the red warning reads: “Infants have DIED in infant bath tubs. Adult supervision required.” A little screen time for my 2-year old during this dangerous time, I’m ok with it.
Now I’m not advocating lots of screen time. I dole it out in small doses. 25 minutes after breakfast while I pack lunches, slam espresso and attempt to dress myself and again for 30 minutes before dinner while I make food for the baby, bathe her and then prepare the family’s dinner. The other times? We do puzzles, read books, wrestle, go to the zoo, the park, we bake cookies and eat meals together. I’m still a good mother if I use apps or television in moments of need.
My generation watched A LOT of television, and very often without parental advisory controls. We all have ADD but generally speaking, we made it out ok. I do feel a lot better putting my son in front of a game where he interacts, learns vocabulary, numbers and shapes and works on his memory, rather than some mind-numbing television show.
So that’s my long answer, I won’t be participating in this screen free week. But when I go on vacation this summer, and I have the luxury of time and the granny nanny, there will be no screens allowed, big or small.