One of the biggest challenges in 2020 and carrying into 2021 is figuring out best practices, replacements and tactics to Moving Beyond the Screen.
Daily Routine
When you look at schools across the country there are 3 general categories that have taken shape over the last 12 months: in person; virtual; & hybrid. Each type has pros and cons at all levels.
Even more importantly with each category, the daily routine is the critical element to a successful endeavor. In addition, each of those categories has a profile of sorts when it comes to screens.
That is what we are looking at today. How do we facilitate, support and lead ahead to moving beyond the screen.
I think a cornerstone in this conversation is embedded in a child's and / or adult's daily routine. Let's look further.
First Act of Your Day
Think about yourself and what is the absolute first thing you do every day? Reach for your device or screen? Remote control in hand? Maybe interacting with an AI device be it Google or Amazon.
So now that you've thought about your first step of the day, now take that same level of awareness and look at what your kids do.
I started more closely paying attention to this after I started noticing different habits of my own. Coffee, water, tech, etc. If you take a brief moment, you'll notice yours.
What Was Noticed
Right from the get-go, when I took a moment to watch the first activities of the day it was basically in 3 categories. Every morning bar none I saw the youngins operating in: food, toys or screens.
WOW!
Sometimes all 3 were in play.
Enough is Enough
We could go into all of the ways that screens have permeated the day but let's cut to the chase. Enough is enough.
It has been a sticky wicket ever since. Between setting schedules, trying out limits as well as substitutions the ordeal is daily at minimum.
So what do you actually do?
The List
Going into detail about every step, every deliberation and all possible permutations would be exhausting so let's look at exactly what we are trying.
Time box screen use each day to include tablets, laptop, computers, phones, tv and anything else that involves watching.
Daily page reading assignments in hard copy books.
Daily "playtime" with toys sans tech, i.e. legos, card games, artwork.
Participatory in other activities such as dog walks and anything else that needs to be done.
By itself the list can be exhausting and even slightly overbearing. It bares importance to say that the overarching goal is to add fun to the list in each way.
What's that phrase about catching more something with honey...
From Here on Out
As 2021 unfolds in terms of remote schooling, remote working, less public interaction in person and the increased need for remote engagement, screen management is key.
The plan can change on what we do with screens but having a starting point to work from is incredibly important.
Now what will you do?
One other topic to cover would be the management of all of the electromagnetic fields we are in every day. One tip is to turn off the wifi while you're asleep. Have a timer plug, etc.