With homeschooling and social distancing restrictions in place, many things have changed for families. Routines have been shifted, activities have been cancelled, eating habits have been altered, and restrictions on social media have been relaxed. We are living in a different world today than we were a few short months ago.
As a rule, I am fairly strict with social media in my house. I know it’s part of life, but it drives me crazy when my kids spend too much time in front of screens.
However, since we have started spending so much time at home, I have been a lot more lenient with my children. I know that my family is struggling with following social distancing rules, my husband and I are trying to figure out how to work from home, and my boys are learning to adjust to homeschooling and the absence of their friends and activities.
As a parent, I am learning that access to social media is very important for my boys as they navigate their way through their “new normal” and I am allowing myself to not feel guilty about letting them have it. My boys are using technology to access their schoolwork, organize study groups, and play video games and online bingo with their buddies.
Even though I know my tween and teenaged boys need social media to assert their independence and interact with their peers, I still feel the need to ensure they are not in front of screens all the time. I believe that, instead of setting limits on their screen time, it’s more effective to focus on encouraging alternatives. We build screen time into our daily schedules, but we also build in time for reading, physical activities, and creative endeavours.
The key to getting older kids excited about screen-free activities is to encourage them to explore their interests. Try to come up with fun options that allow them to be physically active, offer them an opportunity to learn something, or let their creative juices flow.
My boys are very active, so they have spent a large amount of their self-distancing time creating “trick shot” videos to post on YouTube (you can search for “Lights Out trick shots” if you want to check them out). My boys plan out their videos (using a variety of sports equipment), execute the trick shots, and film and edit their videos. I’m proud of how they work together, what they are learning, and the quality of the videos they are producing.
Learning to play an instrument is another great choice for older kids. In-person lessons might not be possible at this time, but YouTube videos and Zoom lessons are safe options.
It’s also the perfect time to get kids active in the kitchen. The chance to sample the fruits of their labour is a great motivator for my growing boys.
Crafting is another fantastic alternative to screen time, but finding the right crafts (that aren’t too “babyish”) is key. Recently, I purchased a Cricut cutting machine, and my boys have been interested in using it to make custom mugs and t-shirts. Paint nights (facilitated by free online classes) can also be a lot of fun, and knitting, sewing, and drawing are wonderful options too.
Instead of “taking away” and “limiting” electronics, introducing interesting alternatives to screen time is a wonderful way to encourage older kids to pursue fun, active, creative, and educational endeavours.
Our children have lost a lot during this unprecedented time, so it’s OK for us, as parents, to relax rules and focus on their physical and mental well-being.
Gina Bell also writes the East Coast Mommy column. Follow her blog at or contact her at [email protected]
