We do lots of handcrafts. My husband works long hours, and if I need a minute to shower or do something alone, I start an audio book and have everyone sit with modeling wax or knitting or drawing supplies. 5 kids 7 and under, and I agree, screens create way more work!
As someone who allows screens, I actually agree. When my kids aren’t watching screens, they are so bored and I have to work hard to entertain them. And they can’t focus on each activity for long. I probably should move away from screens. We have the tv constantly on and tablets.
My son gets 30 minutes on Saturday and Sunday only (he has to combine them if he wants to watch a longer show). He has a list of less than 10 shows he is allowed to choose from. He had none before 3. He’s almost 6 now. He’s never bored and teachers are amazed at how far ahead he is with reading and other skills. TV is a cheap babysitter. It’s ok if you need to use it, but that’s all it is. Even educational stuff isn’t anywhere near as effective as sitting and teaching them.
Love your perspective on this! "A cheap babysitter" is a great statement, and it is definitely nice to have one on hand. Your intentionality inspires us!
Oh my goodness, you are my soulmate ❤❤❤ we have similarities in so many ways. My son didn’t watch Tv before 3 years old and he just turned to 6 years old and only 30 _60 mins Tv or/ and chrome book time, no smartphone or iPad or video games, and I don’t think he needs to watch or play educational stuff from electronics, teaching him from books and games are good and enough. I always feel I am a minority but I am proud and know what We have been doing is good and right for him,
I have been praying to God for a long time to help me break our family’s screen addiction. This video was so encouraging to me. Thank you for sharing this valuable encouragement with us. 🙏🏻❤️
We have a craft or invention box with pop cycles, Pom Pom, tape, stickers, crayon. We use recycling stuff in our home to. It’s open ended. Also if I take the cell away and they tantrum I tell them time for a nap and they recover better
Your family reminds me of the way I grew up. My parents weren't against technology, they were just pro other things. We all grew up creative, making our own fun. I remember being very happy playing with the takeout containers from KFC because I could use my imagination. 😂
It’s really encouraging to know other families can do this. I am struggling because my spouse does not support me on free screen time. But I’ve decided this year to invest my money in buying more home family games and stop paying for online entertainment. At least it’s a start. Thank you!
I realized, the worst thing I can do is to complain about my husbands screen time. So instead, I invite my husband to join me and the kids! We play board games, card games And puzzles! The way you ask makes a huge difference! You got this Mama! God bless
Such a good idea! My husband’s phone is his third arm. On it in every free second of his time, in the middle of the night. Worst part is he is completely in denial (arent they all!?) that he uses his phone a lot. Meanwhile I’ll find mine across the house with notifications from hours ago lol
I have fallen into the “rest” cycle of turning on the tv for my son and scrolling my phone and it is always such a battle to go do anything else after it’s on. Thank you for sharing all of this.
Love this! I’ve been screen free with the kids for a week and it’s been helpful to minimize the toys. If there’s too many toys it makes my kids not wanna play as long and deep. Less toys, and toy rotations has made screen free time easier. Also having things like puzzles, sensory bins, and coloring stations help keep them entertained
I love to see that you are spreading more awareness are Charlotte Mason and Classical education! We do the same! For our family with 4 little ones, we do a lot of cooking, feasting, sewing, handicrafts, puzzles, reading, legos, audiobooks during shared chores, hiking, parks, church groups, and we go to a gym that allows our young kids to work out with us about 4 days a week. Plenty to keep little minds and hands busy and learning!
My brother said this in preaching recently, “I don’t just go to my toolbox and get out a tool then go look for something to do with it.” I recall that as I sit watching RUclips, but it’s a good thing to keep in mind! Tools are useful, but you don’t play with them for no reason.
Yay, other screen free families. We have invested in outdoor activities (cubby house, veggie garden, and sandpit) which has taken most of our morning time since the kids started walking. Then good books, blocks and crayons take the cake for inside time. It's so nice to find others who are similar. I feel alone in our family values most of the time.
Wow. The fact that there are families out there that are run like this. You guys are living my dream! I'm grateful that my parents set the foundation so that when I have my family, we won't make the mistakes they did as often.
Love this! Curious how you do RUclips with your kids around and being a screen free family. How do you explain to them that you make videos but they’re not allowed to watch? Would love to hear from you!
If ya go to 4:30 of the video they both start to explain this. I think they have done a great job explaining what no screen time means for their family and why and how they do it.
@@boring2beautiful66 right, they’re not “completely screen free!” They try not to use screens during family time. Big difference and explains why their whole platform is online but they are screen-free. A bit misleading, but alright. They will reach their target audience well enough with this
Raised my three boys like this too. We homeschooled and used most of the day for outreach projects and outdoor activities after done with bookwork. Started each day with “quiet time with God” and ended each day the same. We skipped buying toys and trying to keep up with the latest gadgets and gave them tools, instruments, items with which to build life skills with, and lots of time, attention, and encouragement. The only real toy type item that could be found in their room was Legos. When my middle son would build amazing inventions with Legos I used to feel sad that he would just take them apart and build something else and all the work seemed to go to waste. I encouraged him to make something with more sustainable materials that would benefit others in the long run. He started pouring over construction books at the library and the first thing he built was a secret room in our hallway that was behind a long picture frame. He made it for me as a birthday gift to use as a prayer room 😭 ❤️ since my prayer room was then being used for his little brother. By 12 yrs old he had built his own two story micro home in the backyard all by himself complete with electricity and everything! Because we educated them at home we had lots of extra time to be involved in our community. An example of this was being able to take them to Haiti after the earthquake to do ministry and help out. They paid for their own tickets with some money they had saved from their “businesses.” Upon return was when the middle child said he wanted to be a missionary and help people everywhere know Jesus and be able to build their own houses so he decided to learn to build houses so he could reach them. (He also started studying French Creole). From a young age we helped them use their passions and hobbies to earn income and thus teach them financial responsibility/stewardship. Examples of this were the two oldest loving nature and the outdoors and having a landscaping business by the age of 8 and 10 and their younger brother loving animals so we bought him a couple chickens and he started an egg selling business when he was 6. Some of the hobbies the boys loved were singing/songwriting/playing instruments, wood working, blacksmithing, studying antiques and then thrifting/yardsailing and finding stuff to resell at boutiques in town, archery, cake decorating (lol), inventing, baking cookies for neighbors, visiting hospitals and nursing homes and encouraging the patients with songs, prayer, and Scripture recitation, traveling on mission trips, sports, and hosting their friends for worship nights and Bible Studies. I was so blessed to have these amazing boys and I just want to encourage parents that you can raise them without screen time and you won’t regret it. I definitely don’t look back and say “I wish I would have given them more screen time”.
Will you share your daily schedule/rhythm at some point? Would love to know more insight about what you and the kids are doing through the day to replace screen time! And what do your littlest ones do outside when it’s cold? Mine are 2.5 and 1.5 and I have trouble finding things they are interested in doing outside when it’s cold
Would love to know how you teach and train your kiddos to stay in their rooms/do quiet time please? Our 2.5 yr old just leaves her room or wants to come play with me, or watch tv. ❤
If tv isn’t an option and playing with you isn’t an option because you are doing dishes or other chores etc they will either help you or play by themselves naturally. Boredom is super healthy for kids!
Yes my now 4 year old would sometimes have meltdowns at that age while I was doing chores and not playing with him. I just made sure I had playtime with him earlier in the day and would let him cry for a few minutes. He eventually would stop and find something to do. We have also used a timer. We would say stay in your room and play or on bed looking at books until timer beeps. It took a lot of practice but we finally got there and have an hour (or more if he falls asleep) quiet/nap time every day.
We don't watch sny TV either. Movie night once a week after he's sleeping. The occasional thing on our ipads....after he's asleep. You have to demonstrate.
I was teaching a song to the little ones with marching steps. "I will set, I will set, I will set nothing vile before my eyes. I will walk blamlessly in my house, and I will set nothing vile before my eyes." The wee one added "cut it off" with a finger pointing out.
Me too! It’s something we all intuitively know and feel, sometimes we just need to be reminded by others that what we’ve been feeling all along is true❤️
this comes at a great time. we just got over a week of being sick and using TV shows / movies to survive and entertain .. now it’s very hard to cut it off though as they are expecting it 24/7. Screen time seriously is such a battle . Cutting it off entirely sounds SO appeasing and restful
Us too! Literally an entire month of someone in the household always being sick. Gotta wean off the screen time and it’s gonna be rough but worth it I’m sure
I like what you guys said about replacing screen time with activities. The principle of adding before you take away. Something has to fill the vacuum! Here's my list of things I can do instead of scrolling on RUclips: read draw study bible
We go outside everyday! Rain, snow, or sunshine. Your video about weatherproof clothing is a gem. This is key. People ask how we go out and I’m like, “we dress the part”. The world is their classroom. We learned about the city bus thru books and puzzles and toys and this past weekend, I took him in one, which he loves! I plan the day so I don’t feel stressed about what we’re going to do. Usually an hour before bed I think about what I’d like us to do. I reflect on what he’s been curious about and find activities we can do. Some are indoors and some are outdoors. Wishing everyone the very best being hands on with their kids.
We became screen free accidentally as well. Our TV broke, we had no money to buy a new one and have been mostly screen free for 4 years now! Our kids are a little older and I recently started implementing TV time for educational purposes.
Having extended family involved in ur day to day life is so helpful! Living near them means they can stop over and u can maybe even go visit almost daily. Service projects opps! Learning opps!
This video was a God send. Just popped up on my feed and God knew I needed to watch this. I love how you compared it to the budget. This is so good. Thank you!
When I’m cooking it’s always helpful to give my kids a safe cutting knife and veggies or something else they can help to cut. They love rolling out tortilla dough and peeling/safely cutting veggies. They of course don’t get a lot done but they are learning and practicing and the best part is that we are all working together. I will say, since my husband has been working a lot it has been hard to limit screens but this has given me renewed inspiration to cut it back out. Duplos are also something they will spend a very long time doing happily and having the older kids “read” familiar board books to the toddler is really fun if I’m not able to sit down in that moment. Thanks for great content! Always fun to find other (weird) like-minded people on RUclips ;)
Absolutely loved your experience. And this solidified why God kept filling me with ideas so I can do hands on activities with my boys that spark the creativity in me and help me learn about their interests as well!
I’m a mom of 5, my first one is a teenager. But I have 4 more (9, 6, 4 and 18 months). I just allow them one other day to use the screen for an hour. I remember our neighbor laugh about my method, but I don’t care they are my kids and I decide what is good for them.
I would love to know how you have gotten rid of your smartphones? That is something I would love to do, but it feels like so much of my life involves it now, gps, playing music, listening to audiobooks, just being able to google something, etc. I would appreciate any tips! We also became a tv free home about 6 months ago when my son broke our tv, and it has been such a huge blessing in disguise! Excited to check out more of your content!
First time watching, loved all the helpful hints. I remember my grandma making clothes for my barbies. I also remember her making word finds for me on a typewriter. She also did crafts making fake flowers. I don't remember what she used but they were cool.
Good on you! We were same until our two boys turned about 12 and 13 and went to traditional school. They were Montessori kids prior. Now one is off to university , he was smartest kid in high school. The other, age 16, is a gamer. Both super close to us parents. Good kids
Last night as I was mindlessly scrolling through my smartphone(I has just sent the kids to bed), my phone shutdown on me and it wouldn't turn back on. I tried to do everything to get it to turn on again but nothing. I went to bed turned on my laptop and decided to watch a movie on RUclips or something and this vides somehow happened to appear on my screen. You guys are very appealing to look at so I tuned in especially because your video was about family and parenting. Anyway I woke up this morning finished watching your video. I still don't have a workable phone, so I've decided that I am going to the store to buy a flip phone. It actually feels weird, but in a good way, that I have not been on my phone since last night. I am actually excited and looking forward to go without my smartphone and I am excited about figuring out how I will lead my family to going screen free. I know both my phone not working and coming across your video was a God moment. (This is my first time every posting on a RUclips video)
We have never had a TV but tablets, phones, and laptops are starting to take up a lot more time in our lives than ever. It does take way more effort to entertain the kids without the screen. And the behaviour does change in them when its turned off. Total imagination limiter. Well done!
This is so good! I'd love to hear more about how you all make smartphone free work (keeping up with friends, staying consistent posting on social media, etc). I'd love to get rid of my smartphone, but I end up texting/posting a lot for our family business.
I raised my daughterwith no TV. The best decision ever! I always recomended that solution to those who complained about their children's behaviour. God bless you !
I have 4 kids . We go to the park, library, the petting farm nearby, hikes, and I bake alot with them. But they do have about half an hour of screen time every other day.....
Months ago I was looking into getting rid of my smart phone and getting a flip phone...I abandoned it then went back to it then abandoned it again...with certain revelations over the past month then this video popping up for me...its time to do so. I got some non screen related activities for my daughter and I to do and it's time to actually use them consistently. Glory to God. Thank you for this video. Precisely...what do you want your family to look like? Hallelujah Glory to God
I really loved that instead of taking out bad you just worked to add in good and the result was that the bad went away. Sometimes we try sonhard to donit the other way around without success. Thanks for sharing and I'm so glad your comments have been turned back on 😄
Thank you for sharing. This is very true - I have decided to take it back to old school recently. To go outside, put my phone away for a few hours and go back to what I did as a kid before there was social media - before there was a tv in the house. I set boundaries within a set time to not be on any screens. Its hard but one day at a time. Love this! Keep sharing its really inspiring. Bless yas from New Zealand.
My teenager has a TV and a computer in our shared office. The 2 little kids take turns to have 30 mins a day after school on my phone. Our lounge room has a combustion fire 🔥 to look at instead of a TV.
I like this!! My kids need to finish their school, and responsibilities before they can have any tv, we also limit what they're allowed to watch, I know when our older tvs stop working we won't be replacing them.I like the idea of having a projector and screen for special family movie nights only.
Thanks guys! This video is so beautifully balanced & truly seasoned with gracious thoughts & understanding both your own home/ family as well as others'. THANK YOU for sharing your journey with love & compassion :)
My kids have screens when I’m making breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening. Plus a movie on Saturday and Sunday. That’s it really. And because of this they’re great at entertaining themselves!
I raised my boys screen free for years until about middle school years when we had on line learning. At their Grandpa's home they were allowed to play a computer game but I had a 20 minute timer for that. Both sons are successful adults who thank me for it. My youngest saying he would have wasted his life with video games instead he filled it with sports and chess club and work. He played high school football, basketball and volleyball and chess club In our city, home school kids can do any extra curricular activities offered at the public schools. We took advantage of that.
Katie I would love to hear some tips on how you teach your little ones to sit still. My son is 15 months old and I would like to start implementing this but I'm not so sure how. Thanks so much! 🤗
I truly appreciate Katie’s honesty! I’m sure it must’ve been hard to be that vulnerable but you are absolutely right!!! We all do it, I know I do. And I appreciate and grow in inspiration from your story. And Elisha is absolutely right about the lack of ideas is truly one of the main components of not following through with time away from screens. Thank you for this video guys.
Damn... I really wanna do this. Even as a single person, there are just so many benefits to zapping screen time, so that I can enjoy my life instead of feeling like some drone.
Thank you so much for posting this! I was wondering can you PLEASE do a video on how you both function without a smart phone. I want to get rid of mine as well but I’m not sure how to do that because I still need the GPS when I’m out sometimes. How do you deal with that?
I agree with having a ongoing list of “activities” to do when we get tempted to put them in front of a screen, we like to bake, have tea parties with a special treat, play in the hose, play hide n seek, board games, recitations and trivia games, scavenger hunts inside or out side and we can hide anything even simple things they just like to find stuff! Thanks for this encouraging video we are also working on new routines and habits that can grow us closer as a family and closer to God
So glad that your channel showed up in my feed! This is something we are working toward in our home…THANK YOU for sharing this with us, it is very encouraging and helpful.
I find your family so inspiring! I love that I feel encouraged to eliminate screens after watching your videos rather than feeling guilty for currently using them (if that makes sense). Thanks for all you guys do. So many of the systems I have implemented in my home are thanks to you guys and the Get It All Done Club.
I would like to encourage you to continue to be screen free. We have not done that and we now after many years have the fruits of that. Not good , it has influenced my kids mindsets and habits lives, in a negative way now I wish things could have been different. Instead of doing family interactions like table tennis etc. Keep up with this , you will be glad in the long run.
Stay at home mom of 3 kids 5 and under, need care of them, cook, clean … husband working out of home all day , no family or friends to help … so… I don’t like screens but, sometimes in my situation I need… my kids are active, no chance to be quiet with no attention for more than 30 min
Same, i need those half n hour of resetting the house, cook, and clean . I have no options besides switching on tv. We are non English speakers but My kids (all under 6) learnt speaking English before starting schools by watching Peppa pig and Douggie
It is not easy when you have to deal with the kids alone as a mom. Me and my husband did not own a Tv until we had our third baby. My husband got too busy to be home on time to help with anything, not even on time to put them to bed at times. Do not feel guilty for doing all you can with what you have. Our situations are not the same. If you can get time every now and then for quality time that’s great. You are doing well mommy.
Resting next to each other on screens then coming off screens and not liking each other. Wow. You just spoke my reality. I can't give up my smart phone due to work and a few reasons but mind blown. I need to severely limit my phone. Make it live in the kitchen or something.
We never had screens when I was young. Our phones were wall mounted and the Tv came in black and white and had only 3 stations. Computers were not invented. Fun was created by our imagination and friendships.
So helpful! Husband and I are on a slow journey of reducing our dependency on screen time before first baby comes. Books and other productive activities have been a great replancement when I remember to choose them😅
I have a 3, 5, 7, and 9 year old, and we homeschool also. I have had a very similar experience with screens. It became a ‘not worth it’ for me. Outside time is a big one and has so many benefits. No one naps anymore but I leave out a bunch of different books in our main living area and change them out every week and the kids will often sit down and look through or read if they are able on their own. Lately they have gotten into checkers and mancala (even my three year can play this). Like you all said, having a plan I think can be so helpful.
This is so inspirational! Food for thought, although we’ve been thinking (and still do) about this a lot. We have 6 kids 8 and under, and the youngest two being 1 and 2. Soo…things are kinda challenging sometimes😂. Great video! Love to hear more about this journey of you guys!❤
I am one of 7 kids spanning 18 years. As we grew up, older kids often read to younger kids and that provided entertainment for both. It also gave our parents a breather or allowed valuable one on one time while the rest of the family did other things. My parents were also careful to give the older kids different privileges like free time and staying up later so that they didn't bear the burden of raising us younger ones.
This topic has been on my heart lately too. What a timely post! We have always had a consistent video time after lunch and I usually am on my computer or phone and sometimes fall asleep sitting there with them! They love the cuddle time. I have found that at that time of day if I stop moving, I will fall asleep. So reading aloud at that time is not an option. I would love to send them off to their own spaces for quiet time but then we would miss that cuddle time. I am committed to finding a way! I guess maybe I could shift cuddly reading time to before lunch or before dinner, quiet time right after lunch, and do something more active right after quiet time, like an outdoor nature experiment. It’s going to be work and take a plan, but will be so worth it! Thanks for the inspiration.
A huge like! This was so uplifting and motivational, so thank you! It's at first a hard journey but oh so worth it! We also have no tv at home and one time the computer was broken for a week, so we were "forced" to interact to each other all day long and it was a such blessing! We actually had conversations and played and went outside more... But then we fixed the computer and we came back to our old behavioral patterns. It was just easier, not better. And ever since then I've been collecting ideas and courage to actually live better and have healthier family (time). So, again, thank you for these kind of videos to "push" some of us who actually think to live more quality family time :)
I was homeschooling my kids back in the 2000s. We didn't use computer curriculums, only books and hands on learning. We didn't have television service, although we did have a set (i think we had rabbit ears for a time...pbs). Ipads didnt exist yet, thank god, and smart phones were only just beginning. I got my first phone in 2009...it was a flip phone. We had movie night once a week, and all 6 of us would huddle around on the couch with the laptop with a big bowl of pizza rolls. So, "screen time" wasnt even a thing. RUclips was still pretty new, so was Facebook (poor MySpace...shout out), and we didnt really use them. We had A pc, A laptop, and A small tv sometimes. My kids learned many skills as a result, and spent a lot of time outside.
Wonderful ideas! Thank you for sharing. Some other things we can do with our time is serve others. Prepare a meal for a new mom, visit shut-Ins from church and bake cookies to share with our friends at church. 😊
So according to you, this is the last RUclips video that we should be watching. On the other hand you have a RUclips Channel, Who is supposed to watch your videos?
Very impressive and a great example for me. We made it with our almost 2y old without screen. This motivates me to keep it up even though our second baby is almost here and times alone will get more challenging to get. But yes I’m motivated to try to find other solutions to get rest and actually better rest than sitting in front of a phone for me. Thanks for sharing!!! God bless and a very peaceful Christmas soon. Hi from Germany 😊
Thank you! It's so true what you said, Katie about wanting to put the TV on so I can scroll through my phone..but that wasn't even restful and ended up making me and my kids more grumpy with each other. We implemented no screens during the week and we have been able to spend more intentional time doing things like board games, which the kids have soaked up. I thought they would be upset about getting rid of screens but kids crave intentional time with us and I can see the fruit of it vs the "unrestful" break the screens give. Also currently reading the book "Theres No Such Thing As Bad Weather" that you recommended in a previous video and it has really inspired me to be outside with the kids more! So much better use of time and feels so restful and healthy to get that fresh air. Thank you so much for putting in the time to do these helpful videos for us!
We do read alouds. We read aloud books. We sing nursery rhymes. I sing lullabies. We use wooden blocks and crayons with books to color. I allow him to color on the walls as I was allowed to color on the walls as a child. We go to the park, museum, library and aquarium. Self reading is done. Listening to baby can read. No television at the house. Take care
I recently did a 72 hour digital detox and it was so so eye opening!! I learned that my times being wasted on my phone was doing a lot more than wasting my time, it was interfering with good parenting, with connecting with my kids and husband, and I wasn't gwtting my work done, it made me tired, overstimulated and stressed, I wanted to switch to a flip phone, texting is also a problem for me, so now im keeping my phone in my office, which is down stairs from our main living area, its a tool and im teaching the people in my life to bot expect and immediate response from me anymore, im curious what kind of phones you two have? I like the light phone. Thanks!
I am a very older hsling mom so I don’t care if young moms hate me. I’ll say it. NO SCREENS. SCREENS ARE BAD. Dvds maybe on Fri nite for Shabbat or Sat nite to go into the new week with a treat. Keep devices from ur kids, period. I’m speaking from wisdom here; listen to age, young parents 🙂 (My 2 youngest are teens, I still got skin in the game…) Someone here in comments said tapes or CDs or streaming audio YES awesome but be careful not to do hours daily Get outside, work on hobbies and service projects I use classical method but slowed pace/expectations Trivial Pursuits (Harvey & Laurie Bluedorn) has great info and several books that are for Believers esp
so true!! I moved into a new house and I intentionaly decided NOT TO HAVE A TV!! I get so much more done! I choose what I want to see and when to see it! I have a smart phone but I mostly use it as a phone : calls, messages... take pictures! register videos ;-) all the rest I do on the computer!
I really love the new format of your videos. Glad you are finding away to make this work with your husband. I've been watching you since you were pregnant with your second. You're always so helpful ☺. Many blessings to you and your family
Can you do a video or talk about how you teach your kids to sit still for longer amounts of time. That is something I struggle with as a mom of three boys.
Thankyou so much! This is very Inspiring! I have started to make crafts and schemas for my daughter to do when I need to sit back and relax. But I really appreciate the ideas and its encouraging!
I've been wanting to switch to a flip phone but I've come to really rely on Google maps and Spotify for music. I may try just removing all the apps that distract me. I'm also pregnant with my first. My husband and I are both in agreement on not using screens at least early on. We have two smart TVs but no cable and we hardly use them. My family and my in-laws are TVs on constantly kind of people. I'm worried about accepting their help, specifically my parents who are both now retired (I work from home), will bring that into my home. Edit to correct not retired to retired
@@maddiebarry5546 ya I wish that was the case but my Mom keeps telling me if I want help with child care during the week I'll need to get cable. I don't want to paint my parents as horrible people it's really just a cultural difference. It's also not the only one we have. The other big ones are around food and the emphasis on material things/status.
I think main idea is to change your lifestyle with technology. Making videos vs watching TV all day long and gaming....that's different things. I wish I could toss my kids chromebooks to garbage one day .....my education at school was different for sure. Great job! Keep on doing it!
Just came across your channel this week and actually binged watched all the q and a's with your mom lol 😅...you both have a lot of godly wisdom, it's so hard to come by! New subscriber ❤️
I have a group of specific toys that are put up high in a closet and only brought out when I need to fill a specific chunk of time. For example: Monday: magnatiles Tuesday: playdough Wednesday: Lego/diplo Thursday: painting books Friday: water toys I only bring them out if I need them so it keeps the kids interest longer because they don't have access to it everyday.
We do lots of handcrafts. My husband works long hours, and if I need a minute to shower or do something alone, I start an audio book and have everyone sit with modeling wax or knitting or drawing supplies. 5 kids 7 and under, and I agree, screens create way more work!
Interesting.
Glad to hear that
Can you suggest some audio book that I could play for my 5 year old kid? thanks
As someone who allows screens, I actually agree. When my kids aren’t watching screens, they are so bored and I have to work hard to entertain them. And they can’t focus on each activity for long. I probably should move away from screens. We have the tv constantly on and tablets.
My son gets 30 minutes on Saturday and Sunday only (he has to combine them if he wants to watch a longer show). He has a list of less than 10 shows he is allowed to choose from. He had none before 3. He’s almost 6 now. He’s never bored and teachers are amazed at how far ahead he is with reading and other skills. TV is a cheap babysitter. It’s ok if you need to use it, but that’s all it is. Even educational stuff isn’t anywhere near as effective as sitting and teaching them.
Love your perspective on this! "A cheap babysitter" is a great statement, and it is definitely nice to have one on hand. Your intentionality inspires us!
Agreed!
I do almost same with my 6 and four how are you planning to keep like that in future and I wish if you share those shows he watches too
Oh my goodness, you are my soulmate ❤❤❤ we have similarities in so many ways. My son didn’t watch Tv before 3 years old and he just turned to 6 years old and only 30 _60 mins Tv or/ and chrome book time, no smartphone or iPad or video games, and I don’t think he needs to watch or play educational stuff from electronics, teaching him from books and games are good and enough. I always feel I am a minority but I am proud and know what We have been doing is good and right for him,
What shows does he get ??
I have been praying to God for a long time to help me break our family’s screen addiction. This video was so encouraging to me. Thank you for sharing this valuable encouragement with us. 🙏🏻❤️
We have a craft or invention box with pop cycles, Pom Pom, tape, stickers, crayon. We use recycling stuff in our home to. It’s open ended.
Also if I take the cell away and they tantrum I tell them time for a nap and they recover better
Sell your TV 📺
Your family reminds me of the way I grew up. My parents weren't against technology, they were just pro other things. We all grew up creative, making our own fun. I remember being very happy playing with the takeout containers from KFC because I could use my imagination. 😂
Until your 4
It’s really encouraging to know other families can do this. I am struggling because my spouse does not support me on free screen time. But I’ve decided this year to invest my money in buying more home family games and stop paying for online entertainment. At least it’s a start. Thank you!
I realized, the worst thing I can do is to complain about my husbands screen time.
So instead, I invite my husband to join me and the kids! We play board games, card games And puzzles!
The way you ask makes a huge difference! You got this Mama! God bless
Such a good idea! My husband’s phone is his third arm. On it in every free second of his time, in the middle of the night. Worst part is he is completely in denial (arent they all!?) that he uses his phone a lot. Meanwhile I’ll find mine across the house with notifications from hours ago lol
@@kaitlinross4348 I recommend getting the book 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You
I have fallen into the “rest” cycle of turning on the tv for my son and scrolling my phone and it is always such a battle to go do anything else after it’s on. Thank you for sharing all of this.
Love this! I’ve been screen free with the kids for a week and it’s been helpful to minimize the toys. If there’s too many toys it makes my kids not wanna play as long and deep. Less toys, and toy rotations has made screen free time easier. Also having things like puzzles, sensory bins, and coloring stations help keep them entertained
I love to see that you are spreading more awareness are Charlotte Mason and Classical education! We do the same!
For our family with 4 little ones, we do a lot of cooking, feasting, sewing, handicrafts, puzzles, reading, legos, audiobooks during shared chores, hiking, parks, church groups, and we go to a gym that allows our young kids to work out with us about 4 days a week. Plenty to keep little minds and hands busy and learning!
Fun. We do those things in our unschool!
My brother said this in preaching recently, “I don’t just go to my toolbox and get out a tool then go look for something to do with it.” I recall that as I sit watching RUclips, but it’s a good thing to keep in mind! Tools are useful, but you don’t play with them for no reason.
Yay, other screen free families. We have invested in outdoor activities (cubby house, veggie garden, and sandpit) which has taken most of our morning time since the kids started walking. Then good books, blocks and crayons take the cake for inside time.
It's so nice to find others who are similar. I feel alone in our family values most of the time.
Be proud, you are doing the right thing for your family and time will tell you are absolutely right
Hey friend! You’re not alone❤
Arent you on a screen? Not trying to be rude, but how does that work?
Wow. The fact that there are families out there that are run like this. You guys are living my dream! I'm grateful that my parents set the foundation so that when I have my family, we won't make the mistakes they did as often.
Love this! Curious how you do RUclips with your kids around and being a screen free family. How do you explain to them that you make videos but they’re not allowed to watch? Would love to hear from you!
Good question
I agree. No shade, but how are you all completely screen free when your livelihood depends on social media? That doesn’t seem possible.
If ya go to 4:30 of the video they both start to explain this. I think they have done a great job explaining what no screen time means for their family and why and how they do it.
@@boring2beautiful66 right, they’re not “completely screen free!” They try not to use screens during family time. Big difference and explains why their whole platform is online but they are screen-free. A bit misleading, but alright. They will reach their target audience well enough with this
My thoughts exactly
Raised my three boys like this too. We homeschooled and used most of the day for outreach projects and outdoor activities after done with bookwork. Started each day with “quiet time with God” and ended each day the same.
We skipped buying toys and trying to keep up with the latest gadgets and gave them tools, instruments, items with which to build life skills with, and lots of time, attention, and encouragement. The only real toy type item that could be found in their room was Legos. When my middle son would build amazing inventions with Legos I used to feel sad that he would just take them apart and build something else and all the work seemed to go to waste. I encouraged him to make something with more sustainable materials that would benefit others in the long run. He started pouring over construction books at the library and the first thing he built was a secret room in our hallway that was behind a long picture frame. He made it for me as a birthday gift to use as a prayer room 😭 ❤️ since my prayer room was then being used for his little brother. By 12 yrs old he had built his own two story micro home in the backyard all by himself complete with electricity and everything!
Because we educated them at home we had lots of extra time to be involved in our community. An example of this was being able to take them to Haiti after the earthquake to do ministry and help out. They paid for their own tickets with some money they had saved from their “businesses.” Upon return was when the middle child said he wanted to be a missionary and help people everywhere know Jesus and be able to build their own houses so he decided to learn to build houses so he could reach them. (He also started studying French Creole).
From a young age we helped them use their passions and hobbies to earn income and thus teach them financial responsibility/stewardship. Examples of this were the two oldest loving nature and the outdoors and having a landscaping business by the age of 8 and 10 and their younger brother loving animals so we bought him a couple chickens and he started an egg selling business when he was 6. Some of the hobbies the boys loved were singing/songwriting/playing instruments, wood working, blacksmithing, studying antiques and then thrifting/yardsailing and finding stuff to resell at boutiques in town, archery, cake decorating (lol), inventing, baking cookies for neighbors, visiting hospitals and nursing homes and encouraging the patients with songs, prayer, and Scripture recitation, traveling on mission trips, sports, and hosting their friends for worship nights and Bible Studies. I was so blessed to have these amazing boys and I just want to encourage parents that you can raise them without screen time and you won’t regret it. I definitely don’t look back and say “I wish I would have given them more screen time”.
Will you share your daily schedule/rhythm at some point? Would love to know more insight about what you and the kids are doing through the day to replace screen time! And what do your littlest ones do outside when it’s cold? Mine are 2.5 and 1.5 and I have trouble finding things they are interested in doing outside when it’s cold
Would love to know how you teach and train your kiddos to stay in their rooms/do quiet time please? Our 2.5 yr old just leaves her room or wants to come play with me, or watch tv. ❤
If tv isn’t an option and playing with you isn’t an option because you are doing dishes or other chores etc they will either help you or play by themselves naturally. Boredom is super healthy for kids!
Yes my now 4 year old would sometimes have meltdowns at that age while I was doing chores and not playing with him. I just made sure I had playtime with him earlier in the day and would let him cry for a few minutes. He eventually would stop and find something to do. We have also used a timer. We would say stay in your room and play or on bed looking at books until timer beeps. It took a lot of practice but we finally got there and have an hour (or more if he falls asleep) quiet/nap time every day.
We don't watch sny TV either. Movie night once a week after he's sleeping. The occasional thing on our ipads....after he's asleep. You have to demonstrate.
I was teaching a song to the little ones with marching steps. "I will set, I will set, I will set nothing vile before my eyes. I will walk blamlessly in my house, and I will set nothing vile before my eyes." The wee one added "cut it off" with a finger pointing out.
This has really been on my mind/heart for over a year. Especially the phone! Thank you guys for opening your lives and perspectives to us!
Me too! It’s something we all intuitively know and feel, sometimes we just need to be reminded by others that what we’ve been feeling all along is true❤️
@@refillwithlife So true!!😊
this comes at a great time. we just got over a week of being sick and using TV shows / movies to survive and entertain .. now it’s very hard to cut it off though as they are expecting it 24/7. Screen time seriously is such a battle . Cutting it off entirely sounds SO appeasing and restful
Ah, yes! We've so been there!
Us too! Literally an entire month of someone in the household always being sick. Gotta wean off the screen time and it’s gonna be rough but worth it I’m sure
Right! I always go cold turkey with lots of activities planned!
I like what you guys said about replacing screen time with activities. The principle of adding before you take away. Something has to fill the vacuum! Here's my list of things I can do instead of scrolling on RUclips:
read
draw
study bible
We go outside everyday! Rain, snow, or sunshine. Your video about weatherproof clothing is a gem. This is key. People ask how we go out and I’m like, “we dress the part”. The world is their classroom. We learned about the city bus thru books and puzzles and toys and this past weekend, I took him in one, which he loves! I plan the day so I don’t feel stressed about what we’re going to do. Usually an hour before bed I think about what I’d like us to do. I reflect on what he’s been curious about and find activities we can do. Some are indoors and some are outdoors. Wishing everyone the very best being hands on with their kids.
We became screen free accidentally as well. Our TV broke, we had no money to buy a new one and have been mostly screen free for 4 years now! Our kids are a little older and I recently started implementing TV time for educational purposes.
Having extended family involved in ur day to day life is so helpful! Living near them means they can stop over and u can maybe even go visit almost daily. Service projects opps! Learning opps!
This video was a God send. Just popped up on my feed and God knew I needed to watch this. I love how you compared it to the budget. This is so good. Thank you!
When I’m cooking it’s always helpful to give my kids a safe cutting knife and veggies or something else they can help to cut. They love rolling out tortilla dough and peeling/safely cutting veggies. They of course don’t get a lot done but they are learning and practicing and the best part is that we are all working together. I will say, since my husband has been working a lot it has been hard to limit screens but this has given me renewed inspiration to cut it back out. Duplos are also something they will spend a very long time doing happily and having the older kids “read” familiar board books to the toddler is really fun if I’m not able to sit down in that moment. Thanks for great content! Always fun to find other (weird) like-minded people on RUclips ;)
I was raised this way and I turned out more than okay and I'm 24 yrs old..😁 keep on doing this and y'all be okay!
Absolutely loved your experience. And this solidified why God kept filling me with ideas so I can do hands on activities with my boys that spark the creativity in me and help me learn about their interests as well!
I’m a mom of 5, my first one is a teenager. But I have 4 more (9, 6, 4 and 18 months). I just allow them one other day to use the screen for an hour. I remember our neighbor laugh about my method, but I don’t care they are my kids and I decide what is good for them.
I would love to know how you have gotten rid of your smartphones? That is something I would love to do, but it feels like so much of my life involves it now, gps, playing music, listening to audiobooks, just being able to google something, etc. I would appreciate any tips! We also became a tv free home about 6 months ago when my son broke our tv, and it has been such a huge blessing in disguise! Excited to check out more of your content!
Love this! Less screen time is one of my goals this year. God bless you both and praying you will stay the course!
First time watching, loved all the helpful hints. I remember my grandma making clothes for my barbies. I also remember her making word finds for me on a typewriter. She also did crafts making fake flowers. I don't remember what she used but they were cool.
What great memories! ❤
Good on you! We were same until our two boys turned about 12 and 13 and went to traditional school.
They were Montessori kids prior.
Now one is off to university , he was smartest kid in high school.
The other, age 16, is a gamer.
Both super close to us parents.
Good kids
The fact that this is even a conversation they needs to be had or an idea that blows peoples minds are the very reasons it is so, so important.
Last night as I was mindlessly scrolling through my smartphone(I has just sent the kids to bed), my phone shutdown on me and it wouldn't turn back on. I tried to do everything to get it to turn on again but nothing. I went to bed turned on my laptop and decided to watch a movie on RUclips or something and this vides somehow happened to appear on my screen. You guys are very appealing to look at so I tuned in especially because your video was about family and parenting. Anyway I woke up this morning finished watching your video. I still don't have a workable phone, so I've decided that I am going to the store to buy a flip phone. It actually feels weird, but in a good way, that I have not been on my phone since last night. I am actually excited and looking forward to go without my smartphone and I am excited about figuring out how I will lead my family to going screen free. I know both my phone not working and coming across your video was a God moment. (This is my first time every posting on a RUclips video)
We have never had a TV but tablets, phones, and laptops are starting to take up a lot more time in our lives than ever. It does take way more effort to entertain the kids without the screen. And the behaviour does change in them when its turned off. Total imagination limiter. Well done!
Great video! Libraries and children’s museums are also great for screen free time as well. Most libraries offer story time for kids and other classes.
I definitely find it easy to go screen free In the spring summer and fall but the winter it feels so much harder
Love it!
Board games,+ card games,
Activity + coloring books
Clay + playdoh
This is so good! I'd love to hear more about how you all make smartphone free work (keeping up with friends, staying consistent posting on social media, etc). I'd love to get rid of my smartphone, but I end up texting/posting a lot for our family business.
I raised my daughterwith no TV.
The best decision ever!
I always recomended that solution to those who complained about their children's behaviour.
God bless you !
I have 4 kids . We go to the park, library, the petting farm nearby, hikes, and I bake alot with them. But they do have about half an hour of screen time every other day.....
Months ago I was looking into getting rid of my smart phone and getting a flip phone...I abandoned it then went back to it then abandoned it again...with certain revelations over the past month then this video popping up for me...its time to do so. I got some non screen related activities for my daughter and I to do and it's time to actually use them consistently.
Glory to God.
Thank you for this video. Precisely...what do you want your family to look like?
Hallelujah
Glory to God
I really loved that instead of taking out bad you just worked to add in good and the result was that the bad went away. Sometimes we try sonhard to donit the other way around without success. Thanks for sharing and I'm so glad your comments have been turned back on 😄
Thank you for sharing. This is very true - I have decided to take it back to old school recently. To go outside, put my phone away for a few hours and go back to what I did as a kid before there was social media - before there was a tv in the house. I set boundaries within a set time to not be on any screens. Its hard but one day at a time. Love this! Keep sharing its really inspiring. Bless yas from New Zealand.
My teenager has a TV and a computer in our shared office. The 2 little kids take turns to have 30 mins a day after school on my phone.
Our lounge room has a combustion fire 🔥 to look at instead of a TV.
I like this!! My kids need to finish their school, and responsibilities before they can have any tv, we also limit what they're allowed to watch, I know when our older tvs stop working we won't be replacing them.I like the idea of having a projector and screen for special family movie nights only.
Thanks guys! This video is so beautifully balanced & truly seasoned with gracious thoughts & understanding both your own home/ family as well as others'. THANK YOU for sharing your journey with love & compassion :)
My kids have screens when I’m making breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening. Plus a movie on Saturday and Sunday. That’s it really. And because of this they’re great at entertaining themselves!
I raised my boys screen free for years until about middle school years when we had on line learning. At their Grandpa's home they were allowed to play a computer game but I had a 20 minute timer for that. Both sons are successful adults who thank me for it. My youngest saying he would have wasted his life with video games instead he filled it with sports and chess club and work. He played high school football, basketball and volleyball and chess club
In our city, home school kids can do any extra curricular activities offered at the public schools. We took advantage of that.
That's such a gross take. Video games are no more a "waste of time" than sports or chess club.
Amazing! I have a 5 month old and will implement this as he gets older. Your family is an inspiration ❤
I'm so thankful you're doing this as a family, and that you're sharing about it. We have seen similar benefits and blessings.
As a mama I really needed this. Thank you both for giving me things to think about 💖🙏
Katie, you seriously look so much more at peace. I love watching your family adjust. Thanks for continuing to share!!
Katie I would love to hear some tips on how you teach your little ones to sit still. My son is 15 months old and I would like to start implementing this but I'm not so sure how. Thanks so much! 🤗
I truly appreciate Katie’s honesty! I’m sure it must’ve been hard to be that vulnerable but you are absolutely right!!! We all do it, I know I do. And I appreciate and grow in inspiration from your story.
And Elisha is absolutely right about the lack of ideas is truly one of the main components of not following through with time away from screens.
Thank you for this video guys.
Damn... I really wanna do this. Even as a single person, there are just so many benefits to zapping screen time, so that I can enjoy my life instead of feeling like some drone.
Thank you so much for posting this! I was wondering can you PLEASE do a video on how you both function without a smart phone. I want to get rid of mine as well but I’m not sure how to do that because I still need the GPS when I’m out sometimes. How do you deal with that?
I agree with having a ongoing list of “activities” to do when we get tempted to put them in front of a screen, we like to bake, have tea parties with a special treat, play in the hose, play hide n seek, board games, recitations and trivia games, scavenger hunts inside or out side and we can hide anything even simple things they just like to find stuff! Thanks for this encouraging video we are also working on new routines and habits that can grow us closer as a family and closer to God
So glad that your channel showed up in my feed! This is something we are working toward in our home…THANK YOU for sharing this with us, it is very encouraging and helpful.
Love it!! I think involving the kids in cooking and baking is also a wonderful use of your time :)
I find your family so inspiring! I love that I feel encouraged to eliminate screens after watching your videos rather than feeling guilty for currently using them (if that makes sense). Thanks for all you guys do. So many of the systems I have implemented in my home are thanks to you guys and the Get It All Done Club.
I would like to encourage you to continue to be screen free. We have not done that and we now after many years have the fruits of that. Not good , it has influenced my kids mindsets and habits lives, in a negative way now I wish things could have been different. Instead of doing family interactions like table tennis etc. Keep up with this , you will be glad in the long run.
Stay at home mom of 3 kids 5 and under, need care of them, cook, clean … husband working out of home all day , no family or friends to help … so… I don’t like screens but, sometimes in my situation I need… my kids are active, no chance to be quiet with no attention for more than 30 min
Same, i need those half n hour of resetting the house, cook, and clean . I have no options besides switching on tv. We are non English speakers but My kids (all under 6) learnt speaking English before starting schools by watching Peppa pig and Douggie
@@K98vd04 same here foreign family so educational shows appropriate for kids help a lot
It is not easy when you have to deal with the kids alone as a mom. Me and my husband did not own a Tv until we had our third baby. My husband got too busy to be home on time to help with anything, not even on time to put them to bed at times.
Do not feel guilty for doing all you can with what you have. Our situations are not the same. If you can get time every now and then for quality time that’s great.
You are doing well mommy.
@@khomotjomalatji4600 thank you so much for your kind words 💖
Resting next to each other on screens then coming off screens and not liking each other. Wow. You just spoke my reality. I can't give up my smart phone due to work and a few reasons but mind blown. I need to severely limit my phone. Make it live in the kitchen or something.
We never had screens when I was young. Our phones were wall mounted and the Tv came in black and white and had only 3 stations. Computers were not invented. Fun was created by our imagination and friendships.
So helpful! Husband and I are on a slow journey of reducing our dependency on screen time before first baby comes. Books and other productive activities have been a great replancement when I remember to choose them😅
I have a 3, 5, 7, and 9 year old, and we homeschool also. I have had a very similar experience with screens. It became a ‘not worth it’ for me. Outside time is a big one and has so many benefits. No one naps anymore but I leave out a bunch of different books in our main living area and change them out every week and the kids will often sit down and look through or read if they are able on their own. Lately they have gotten into checkers and mancala (even my three year can play this). Like you all said, having a plan I think can be so helpful.
YES! This is so encouraging to hear! Thank you for sharing!
Love this, made a huge play room and invited kids from the neighborhood and parents too.
This is so inspirational! Food for thought, although we’ve been thinking (and still do) about this a lot. We have 6 kids 8 and under, and the youngest two being 1 and 2. Soo…things are kinda challenging sometimes😂. Great video! Love to hear more about this journey of you guys!❤
I am one of 7 kids spanning 18 years. As we grew up, older kids often read to younger kids and that provided entertainment for both. It also gave our parents a breather or allowed valuable one on one time while the rest of the family did other things. My parents were also careful to give the older kids different privileges like free time and staying up later so that they didn't bear the burden of raising us younger ones.
This was such an honest conversation to have with yourselves and thank you for sharing it 🙏.
This topic has been on my heart lately too. What a timely post! We have always had a consistent video time after lunch and I usually am on my computer or phone and sometimes fall asleep sitting there with them! They love the cuddle time. I have found that at that time of day if I stop moving, I will fall asleep. So reading aloud at that time is not an option. I would love to send them off to their own spaces for quiet time but then we would miss that cuddle time.
I am committed to finding a way! I guess maybe I could shift cuddly reading time to before lunch or before dinner, quiet time right after lunch, and do something more active right after quiet time, like an outdoor nature experiment. It’s going to be work and take a plan, but will be so worth it! Thanks for the inspiration.
Wow this was an answered prayer. You don’t even know. I’ve been struggling with this myself.
A huge like! This was so uplifting and motivational, so thank you! It's at first a hard journey but oh so worth it! We also have no tv at home and one time the computer was broken for a week, so we were "forced" to interact to each other all day long and it was a such blessing! We actually had conversations and played and went outside more... But then we fixed the computer and we came back to our old behavioral patterns. It was just easier, not better. And ever since then I've been collecting ideas and courage to actually live better and have healthier family (time). So, again, thank you for these kind of videos to "push" some of us who actually think to live more quality family time :)
I was homeschooling my kids back in the 2000s. We didn't use computer curriculums, only books and hands on learning. We didn't have television service, although we did have a set (i think we had rabbit ears for a time...pbs). Ipads didnt exist yet, thank god, and smart phones were only just beginning. I got my first phone in 2009...it was a flip phone. We had movie night once a week, and all 6 of us would huddle around on the couch with the laptop with a big bowl of pizza rolls. So, "screen time" wasnt even a thing. RUclips was still pretty new, so was Facebook (poor MySpace...shout out), and we didnt really use them. We had A pc, A laptop, and A small tv sometimes. My kids learned many skills as a result, and spent a lot of time outside.
Wonderful ideas! Thank you for sharing.
Some other things we can do with our time is serve others. Prepare a meal for a new mom, visit shut-Ins from church and bake cookies to share with our friends at church. 😊
Would love a video about how you create your dream boards and how you plan your year/goals/family life together.
Our kids play with Magna blocks, they are creative for hours! ❤
So according to you, this is the last RUclips video that we should be watching. On the other hand you have a RUclips Channel, Who is supposed to watch your videos?
Very impressive and a great example for me. We made it with our almost 2y old without screen. This motivates me to keep it up even though our second baby is almost here and times alone will get more challenging to get. But yes I’m motivated to try to find other solutions to get rest and actually better rest than sitting in front of a phone for me.
Thanks for sharing!!!
God bless and a very peaceful Christmas soon.
Hi from Germany 😊
I am watching you on Uscreen, so I am definitely learning from the screen.
Here I am. Laying in my hammock. On a screen. Yall make it hard to stop cause I love your videos 😅🤩😍🥰
I love this, very inspirational. My husband and I started off the same and after I got pregnant with our second child was when things changed.
Thank you! It's so true what you said, Katie about wanting to put the TV on so I can scroll through my phone..but that wasn't even restful and ended up making me and my kids more grumpy with each other. We implemented no screens during the week and we have been able to spend more intentional time doing things like board games, which the kids have soaked up. I thought they would be upset about getting rid of screens but kids crave intentional time with us and I can see the fruit of it vs the "unrestful" break the screens give. Also currently reading the book "Theres No Such Thing As Bad Weather" that you recommended in a previous video and it has really inspired me to be outside with the kids more! So much better use of time and feels so restful and healthy to get that fresh air. Thank you so much for putting in the time to do these helpful videos for us!
I bake with my kids when I don’t know what to do with them they love it 😅
Love this!! What a great idea🥰
Love this!
We do read alouds. We read aloud books. We sing nursery rhymes. I sing lullabies. We use wooden blocks and crayons with books to color. I allow him to color on the walls as I was allowed to color on the walls as a child. We go to the park, museum, library and aquarium.
Self reading is done. Listening to baby can read. No television at the house.
Take care
I recently did a 72 hour digital detox and it was so so eye opening!! I learned that my times being wasted on my phone was doing a lot more than wasting my time, it was interfering with good parenting, with connecting with my kids and husband, and I wasn't gwtting my work done, it made me tired, overstimulated and stressed, I wanted to switch to a flip phone, texting is also a problem for me, so now im keeping my phone in my office, which is down stairs from our main living area, its a tool and im teaching the people in my life to bot expect and immediate response from me anymore, im curious what kind of phones you two have? I like the light phone. Thanks!
You are such an encouragement for young families! Thank you for sharing with us!!! 🥰❤️ we love you!
I am a very older hsling mom so I don’t care if young moms hate me. I’ll say it.
NO SCREENS. SCREENS ARE BAD.
Dvds maybe on Fri nite for Shabbat or Sat nite to go into the new week with a treat.
Keep devices from ur kids, period.
I’m speaking from wisdom here; listen to age, young parents 🙂
(My 2 youngest are teens, I still got skin in the game…)
Someone here in comments said tapes or CDs or streaming audio
YES awesome but be careful not to do hours daily
Get outside, work on hobbies and service projects
I use classical method but slowed pace/expectations
Trivial Pursuits (Harvey & Laurie Bluedorn) has great info and several books that are for Believers esp
so true!! I moved into a new house and I intentionaly decided NOT TO HAVE A TV!! I get so much more done! I choose what I want to see and when to see it!
I have a smart phone but I mostly use it as a phone : calls, messages... take pictures! register videos ;-) all the rest I do on the computer!
I really love the new format of your videos. Glad you are finding away to make this work with your husband. I've been watching you since you were pregnant with your second. You're always so helpful ☺. Many blessings to you and your family
Can you do a video or talk about how you teach your kids to sit still for longer amounts of time. That is something I struggle with as a mom of three boys.
I ❤️ everything you guys share. Katie you’re so sweet + wise + I find Elijah so funny, thanks for sharing your wisdom
And she's very humble when she offers her ideas and encouragement. Such a genuine young lady!
Did I miss the part How do you film and edit your youtube videos?? Do you have a secret camera guy and editor?
This is incredible! Just found this channel…. Wow wow wow! I’ll be subscribing and sharing with others. Fantastic advice and sound reasoning. 👏🏾
Thankyou so much! This is very Inspiring! I have started to make crafts and schemas for my daughter to do when I need to sit back and relax. But I really appreciate the ideas and its encouraging!
I've been wanting to switch to a flip phone but I've come to really rely on Google maps and Spotify for music. I may try just removing all the apps that distract me. I'm also pregnant with my first. My husband and I are both in agreement on not using screens at least early on. We have two smart TVs but no cable and we hardly use them. My family and my in-laws are TVs on constantly kind of people. I'm worried about accepting their help, specifically my parents who are both now retired (I work from home), will bring that into my home.
Edit to correct not retired to retired
You can ask them kindly to not use the tv in your home :) their help is essential.
@@maddiebarry5546 ya I wish that was the case but my Mom keeps telling me if I want help with child care during the week I'll need to get cable. I don't want to paint my parents as horrible people it's really just a cultural difference. It's also not the only one we have. The other big ones are around food and the emphasis on material things/status.
Love love love this
Great video! Also…..kids can be bored, there doesn’t always have to be an activity or plan. It is really beneficial for creativity.
I think main idea is to change your lifestyle with technology. Making videos vs watching TV all day long and gaming....that's different things. I wish I could toss my kids chromebooks to garbage one day .....my education at school was different for sure. Great job! Keep on doing it!
I would love to hear you both talk about training toddlers. I’m not always even sure what is appropriate to expect.
Just came across your channel this week and actually binged watched all the q and a's with your mom lol 😅...you both have a lot of godly wisdom, it's so hard to come by! New subscriber ❤️
I have a group of specific toys that are put up high in a closet and only brought out when I need to fill a specific chunk of time.
For example:
Monday: magnatiles
Tuesday: playdough
Wednesday: Lego/diplo
Thursday: painting books
Friday: water toys
I only bring them out if I need them so it keeps the kids interest longer because they don't have access to it everyday.
Great idea!!