Many parents today are struggling to manage their child’s screen-time in the digital age. Many online have been moved by a dad’s encouragement of his daughters to enjoy the outdoors. This has sparked a discussion about the benefits of outdoor play and screen time.
It is legitimate to be concerned about excessive screen-time. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023) survey Over half (12-17) of adolescents spend four or more hours per day looking at screens. Further, research published by Cureus study According to a study published in 2023, excessive screen-time can affect sensorimotor function, executive functioning and academic performance of children and adolescents. Even early and prolonged screen exposure could be associated with a lower level of cognitive ability and academic failure.
Although many parents realize the importance of screen time limits, developing effective strategies to achieve this can prove difficult. Screen time alternatives are not always readily accepted, and some children may initially be resistant to activities without their devices.
Charles Lavea was a father to two girls living in Auckland. He experienced the effects of this. He decided to be proactive in encouraging his daughters to enjoy nature and take a rest from digital devices. Lavea explained, “I removed my daughters’ iPads and iPhones from them, and I left them behind at home.” I wanted to give them some fresh air and sun.
He discovered that after the lunch break, his daughters had not been overly enthusiastic about this newfound liberty. His daughters were not happy with their newfound freedom.
In the video, his daughters are shown swinging listlessly. Their expressions show a profound sense of boredom. These girls were staring blankly at the distance and seemed to be longing for smartphones or tablet computers.
Lavea explained that he uploaded the video in order to show the differences between the experiences of his daughters and his own. He said, “I was laughing because I enjoyed running in the park at that age.”
Lavea may not have had the best of results in his initial attempts to convince his daughters that a day without screens at the park was a good idea, but he is still committed to getting them outside and interacting with the world. Despite his initial failure, Lavea is still committed to encouraging them to spend time outdoors and experience the real world beyond their devices. It is a good reminder to parents of the effort needed in order for them to provide a balanced life for their children, even though they are immersed in a digitally-driven world.