Get Off The Screen!

When I was a kid my social network was called OUTSIDE!

I decided to write this blog because if I'm having this issue in my home, I'm sure many other parents are having the same problem. Electronics have taken over our kids and the sad part is, they don't even know how to function without them. I told myself several years ago, that I was NOT going to be one of those parents that allows their kids to sit on their phones and tablets everyday, all day long. I am ashamed to say that I turned out to be one of those parents! I questioned myself, "How did it come to this?" I may have had a very long day and to keep everyone quite in the house, I would allow them on their phones and video games. Even on school nights! Why, because I wanted peace and quite not realizing my decision was destroying my kids. Now I realize how selfish my decisions were. I was happy because it was quite nobody was bothering me or interrupting my (ME) time.

The results of my decision were horrifying!

Rico's and Zech's grades dropped. Marshaun started whining a lot and King turned into a mad man! He would throw and break things, yelling and cry if he couldn't play on his phone or tablet. The games or videos they were watching caused their behavior to change and they began to fight each other. They learned words and seen things they have had no business hearing or seeing. Over a period of time I began to realize that I no longer recognized my kids personalities. They became angry and socially numb. They did not care about anything. All that mattered was what was on their phones or games. I would have to ask them to do things over and over again because they became hypnotized on whatever they were playing. If I by chance I got a response from one of them, all I would hear is, "In a minute mom. Let me finish this one level !" WHAT? Oh how I hated hearing those words! I could feel my blood boiling! Now, I have turned into a MAD WOMAN!

Screen time syndrome: Moody, impulsive, and can't pay attention

They didn't want to go anywhere not even to church all because they were so worried about their phones. The phones become addictive and taking them away from them, is like taking a baby off the bottle for the first time! What happened is that I allowed electronics to completely taken over my house. I have to admit myself that I was spending way more time then what I should have been on my phone. So, I made the decision to turn things around. I wanted to teach my kids how it was for me growing up and how we used our imagination to have fun. I wanted to teach them the joy of playing outside like we did as children. How fun it is to ride bikes, made up games, play with toys and watched real cartoons. We didn't have phones or tablets and we survived. I want them to understand that you can have a normal life without a tablets, smart phones and video games. Kids these days have no imagination, no social skills and no desire to learn. I didn't want my boys growing up clueless numb to reality and life! Having no interest to learning in school and think they will be the next Instagram Superstar. There is wrong with that or technology and electronics but they need to know there is so much more to life. I want them to understand that education comes first!

I didn't want to completely take them off electronics because I do understand it is how things are in this world today and necessary for their generation. But, I did want to cut the time spent and what they spent it on. Now there are rules in place when it comes to phones and tablets and even watching television. Screentime on iphones is a life saver . It allows you to set what time your kids phones shut off and you can also block anything that you don't want them to see or look up. I noticed when I put these rules into place, their behavior started to change, in a good way. Some faster than others, now they all get the picture. This maybe hard to do at first, especially when you have kids that spend all day and night on their phones. But if you just trust me, it is for the best. At the end, you will be at peace and they will too. Their attitudes will change and so will yours.

Below you will find some rules that I use now to help keep my kids on track and focused at school and at home. You don't follow the rules, you don't get to play on any electronics, PLAIN and SIMPLE!

NO ELECTRONICS UNTIL

1. You have read for at least 30 mins. for younger kids and an hour for teens.

2. Your room is clean, (RIGHT)

3. You have done all chores ( PROPERLY)

4. You have been creative for at least 40 mins.

5. No electronics on school days unless you have A's and B's and you only get ONE hour.

6. No electronics (AT ALL), if you have D's and F's or until your grades are up to A's and Bs' and stays that way.

Don't allow your kids phones to be their God and feel that they need them to survive.

Give them other things to do to feel that void.