We’re almost a week in to our Unplugged Challenge. In fairness, we haven’t turned into Luddites. The television is occasionally turned on. A tablet has magically appeared at a restaurant table. But, there are a lot fewer of these moments than usual. And, while Bambino still asks for a screen, these requests are becoming less frequent.

So, what has he been doing instead? There have been a lot of family activities. We decorated a gingerbread house.

We played at the local sledding hill.

It’s been good for us to spend “quality time” together. Life doesn’t always allow you to spend time with the ones you love. My family needed a chance to play together, laugh, talk, and listen to each other.

But, Bambino’s also had a lot of unstructured time. When left to his own resources, he has found ways to entertain himself. Sometimes, he’s helpful.\

Other times, he immerses himself in a good book. (He’s discovered and rediscovered so many wonderful books this week!)

And, sometimes his imagination runs wild. He’s built monster-resistant forts. The dog has been transformed into “Robot Dog.” Piles of snow are mountains to climb (or inexplicably, bison to ride). Epic soccer matches are reenacted.

Less tech has not led to a simpler existence. In a lot of ways, it’s been a deeper and more satisfying one. We’re talking more. We’re playing more. We’re thinking more. I don’t think we’ll ever fully plug back in again.

Let’s be honest. Most of us are addicted to technology. We love our screens. We use them to work, communicate, learn, and entertain. However, there is a lot of evidence that screens are horrible for child development. (For more information, see this fantastic blog post from Bambino’s school.)

I’ve always had mixed feelings about screen time. It often feels like a necessary evil– a screen can help placate a grumpy child or allow me time to get work done. Recently, I was inspired to dramatically reduce Bambino’s access to technology. (He’s never been a television junky, but he loves his apps.) I was concerned about the constant stimulation and immediate gratification that screens provide.

If you know my family in real life, you understand how pervasive technology is in our home. Il Marito’s professional life focuses on the Internet of Things. If a device can be connected, ours probably is. Limiting technology isn’t a small task for us.

Here’s what we did:

• Removed all tablets and touch screens from public access,
• Implemented a “family only” television rule (no solo viewing), and
• Had a serious discussion about how screen time is bad for little brains.

These may seem like simple things. But, what we experienced was remarkable.

For a day or two, Bambino fussed. He wanted a tablet. He was visibly frustrated that his (horrible) parents wouldn’t cave to his desires. Then, a switch flipped. He started seeking out books, art projects, and other work. He offered to help cook dinner, wash tables, and put away dishes. Once, he even asked that I turn off the television because it was “distracting” and he wanted to play with Lego instead. He seemed happier and more purposeful.

Admittedly, we haven’t been perfect. He’s abused his screen time privileges at times (particularly while eating out). But, we’re discovering that we all benefit from limited screen time. Because of this, we’re upping the ante over the holidays and taking part in his school’s Unplugged Project.

I’m going to use this space as a place to document our adventures in an (almost) screen free world. Join us!