Comments on: Scales before Screens

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:18:08 +0000

I haven't come up with a screen tamer this year. Not enough of my kids are practicing instruments over the summer (only 3 out of the 6). But I need to come up with something…

By: tammy

tammy — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 03:03:34 +0000

I totally recognize you photo now from other blogs. So funny about the connection we just made on FB.

I really hate how my kids get with their computer games too. It's hard when it's so hot in AZ during the summers to come up with other activities. We can only swim for so many hours a day. I like your plan!

By: JP

JP — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 04:30:07 +0000

If you want to try something radical, here's an idea. Last summer I initiated our first "Tech-Free July" and it was absolutely SPECTACULAR! I literally had computer withdrawal for the first five days but after that I was so much more engaged with my family, myself, my house it was amazing. I have five kids and they all did an amazing job with it too (a non-excited-reader even became a reader!!). I'm not saying it was easy, it's not easy even when you have tech around, but a month without tech-time battles was outstanding. T.V. was allowed at other people's homes of course and computer game playing did happen on occasional visits to the library, but there were no "hand-held" gadgets in the car and no t.v./computer in our house (none for me either…I don't have a smart phone, just a regular cell so that wasn't an issue, I shut down my laptop, put a "please call me on the phone" message on my email responder, and stuffed it in the closet). I can't say enough how much I enjoyed that month and how much I've looked forward to it all year…counting the days…

By: TheOneTrueSue

TheOneTrueSue — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 19:48:16 +0000

I really like this idea. Although I don't think I could handle listening to my 7 year old play Indian Drums for the solid hour-and-a-half this would probably motivate him to practice. 😉

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:58:33 +0000

It's been two weeks for us, and some days are better than others. When we are just home, the boys practice more. But when we are running errands, they don't want to spend their leftover time playing the piano OR video games – they want to play outside with friends. Which is great to have them get outside, but I want them to learn how to work too. I'm still trying to figure this out. I am thankful that it's summertime though, so I can spend time with my kids and teach them too!

By: Stacy

Stacy — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 04:15:54 +0000

It's a really good idea! Abby's practicing around 2-2.5 hours a day though, and I'm not so sure I want her to have that much screen time….

By: Barbaloot

Barbaloot — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 23:33:26 +0000

I'm with you on the screen thing! That's one of the reasons I resisted getting a iphone for so long, and I still refuse to upload any games. I'll just get too sucked in.

Fortunately (?) I'm in front of a computer all day for work, so once I'm home I have no desire to park myself in front of a TV or computer.