We live in a world where technology affects every aspect of our lives. It is slowly but surely reducing the amount of face to face interaction we have. This kind of relationship with screens and electronic devices can not only negatively affect your children’s development, but also put a strain on the whole family as well. However, it is possible to get your kids to unplug and reconnect with the rest of the family by making a few lifestyle changes. Here are a few of them.
Go Outside
The simplest thing you can do is to encourage more outside play. Young children are naturally hyperactive and will gladly play outside if they haven’t already built an addiction to electronic devices. Go to a nice park with a good mix of activities. The more you participate in the fun, the more they’ll get involved and the more you’ll have a chance to bond and reconnect.
Brainstorm Activity Ideas
Get the whole family together and brainstorm activity ideas. You could get together and create a kind of bucket list for the summer and let every member pitch in. Try to introduce original ideas that they may have never thought about before.
For instance, you could go on a road trip and visit a Pittsburgh Escape Room along the way. Kids love puzzles and escape rooms are a great way for them to develop logical thinking while getting some much-needed activity. Each member could come with a few ideas and you could dedicate one day each week for activities. This is a great way to get the whole family involved so that no one feels left behind.
Participate in Organized Sports
Most children will have a sport of some kind that they gravitate towards. Whether it’s figure skating, swimming, soccer, hockey or gymnastics, try to get them to participate in organized sports. You don’t want to push them though since you still want them to have fun instead of seeing it as a chore. If you notice that they want to take things up a notch, you could get them to join a league. Not all sports leagues are ultra-competitive, so take things slow at first and see how it goes.
Do Things around the House
Try to get your kids involved in household chores as much as possible. If you’re going to do outside work, bring your kids with you so they can learn the ropes. They are more likely to participate and be cooperative if you work with them.
Consider planting a home garden and make them responsible for their own little plot of land. You’d be surprised at how much kids can get excited by the idea of planting their own crops and watching them grow. This is also a great way to teach them responsibility and give them a strong sense of achievement.
Conclusion
Getting your family to unplug can seem like a challenge, but the sooner you introduce them to a healthy and active lifestyle, the more they will be likely to grow up to be active, well-rounded adults. You’ll also form a stronger family bond as a result.
Oh, thanks for this guide. My family just needs to more often detach from their gadgets. Cool ideas – we will implement)