This post is by regular contributor Brenda Winter Hansen of write again.
Unless you live in a very remote place (are there any left?), it’s pretty difficult to get away from technology these days. We use it for work, communication, entertainment, and education. A lot of people (sadly, I’d bet on most) spend way more time looking at a screen than checking out the natural world outside their window. Sure it’s a choice, but when it comes to raising well-adjusted children, it’s a parent’s responsibility to make the healthiest choices possible, and we all know by now that too much screen time isn’t good for the developing brain.
Unfortunately, according to a 2011 New York Times article, our children’s digital and screen time consumption has only gone up. A 2012 Science Daily article discusses the mounting evidence of health risks associated with too much screen time, citing that negative impacts kick in after as little as two hours a day. A disturbing notion when the 
average North American child is in front of some kind of screen nearly eight hours a day.
Screen-free Week first started in 1994 as a way to encourage people to use electronic screen media responsibly. Its name and supporters have evolved in the last decade, but the idea remains the same: turn off the media and turn on life! Ideally this includes: cell phones, computers, tv’s, gaming devices, you get the idea. For many parents who rely upon technology to negotiate the landmines of parenting, this is a huge challenge. Even in my own household where we’re very modest consumers of screen time, I balk at the idea of giving up my computer and smartphone for a week.
This year April 29-May 5 is Digital Detox Week, and if you can stop using all of it for a week, go for it. But, if you don’t think you could possibly do without all of your tech, I propose a compromise. Take an honest look at how much you and your children consume and decide what you can cut out or reduce. Make it hurt a little so you actually get a sense of living without it. Start with social media for you and maybe video games for your kids. If your household is really into tv, just unplug it. That’s the easiest to cut out. Be prepared with alternatives: books, games, crafts, parks, field trips, hiking, museums, keep a family journal of the experience. Build in some support and do it with another family so it’s easier to get through the week. If you really need an incentive, plan a digital-free, but fun reward for whoever can go the whole week without digital technology gets their favorite meal. The greatest possible outcome is for everyone to realize that their lives will be richer if they moderate their digital interactions.
The irony of blogging about this is not lost on me, but let’s be realistic. Digital is not going away until the Apocalypse, but it’s more important than ever that our children learn how to interact with other people and their environment. So unplug and go play in the mud!