Screen savers
Dawn Isaac, author of 101 Things for Kids to Do Screen-Free, shares ideas for keeping children from getting square eyes, with LISA SALMON
CONFINED within four walls for the forseeable future, countless children are becoming even more dependent on screens to stave off the boredom of lockdown.
And while many parents will welcome the social interaction and entertainment their children get from gaming, the internet and social media during this unprecedented time of social distancing and isolation, few will want their children to spend every waking moment staring at a screen.
But to prise them away from their beloved tablets and phones, alternative pursuits are necessary – and that’s where 101 Things for Kids to do Screen-Free could come in very handy.
The book does what it says on the tin, and offers a wealth of crafty ideas, recipes and games to keep kids entertained.
“We’re living through some really strange times right now,” says Dawn Isaac, the book’s author. “Our kids are having to go online to complete schoolwork or do lessons, so it’s more important than ever to give them a bit of screen-free time.” She suggests designating two or three hours a day as screen-free time, and making this is a regular occurrence so everyone expects it, and it doesn’t cause a daily argument with the kids.
“If you’re juggling work and kids, it’s good to give them some activities they can really get stuck into and will keep them going for not just a quick five minutes, but a good couple of hours,” she says. “The key to this is making sure you gather together all the materials they may need so they don’t keep stopping to ask for things.
“I designed this book to be read and used by kids, without needing to involve parents too much. And right now, that couldn’t be more important, as parents need a break as much as kids need some entertainment. Also, the projects tend to use everyday items you can find around the house, so not being able to get out to the shops shouldn’t slow down the kids’ fun.
“The real surprise is how much children enjoy doing screen-free activities, especially when they feel in control. Giving kids loads of ideas for activities is a brilliant start, but what I really love is how they can take an idea or activity and, before you know it, they’ll have used their own creativity to take it in a whole new direction.
“Before they know it, they’ve been engrossed in something for half an afternoon and not even given YouTube or their PlayStation a thought.
“But it does need to be the whole family – kids can sniff out hypocrisy from a mile away, so it does mean parents need to put away phones and leave Twitter and Facebook alone too.”
Here are three of the ideas in the book to get children aged between about eight and 12 off screens.