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Original poster

To want to live in a “screen free” society

37 replies

Libertyfree · 23/02/2021 20:57

So sick of the daily battles over screen time with children.
Especially at the moment when school day is on phone, followed by social time on phone etc etc.
DD not interested in any activities like crafts, games anymore. Nothing competes with allure of phone.

OP posts:
Samcro · 23/02/2021 21:00

What would you do about things like FaceTime?

SleepingStandingUp · 23/02/2021 21:02

How old is she?

SleepingStandingUp · 23/02/2021 21:04

Also can you imagine the carnage of 12 months on and off lockdown without screens.

Schools would have to post out work on worksheets, no live classes which would be harder for the older ones esp

Briefings only by newspaper which when people aren't meant to be going out daily, or I guess by radio.

No face time for family or friends.

No track and trace 😂

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VanCleefArpels · 23/02/2021 21:05

Why do you think crafts and fishes etc are inherently better than activities on the phone?

One of the difficulties of parenting now is that everything is so different to when we were growing up in the 70’s/ 80’s and even 90’s that we don’t have any points of reference and can fall into the trap of thinking anything different to our experience is inferior. Some of it may be but mostly it’s just different.

We can’t uninvent the wheel.

VanCleefArpels · 23/02/2021 21:06

Games not fishes

Original poster
Libertyfree · 23/02/2021 21:07

I know I’m being extreme snd tech has many positives at the moment but I feel as a society we’re losing something.
Everywhere you look people are constantly on screens.
DD is 12

OP posts:
MysweetAudrina · 23/02/2021 21:09

How would you post on mm for advice?

reefedsail · 23/02/2021 21:10

Yet you have come to mumsnet?

I don't know what I would do without youtube- there is a tutorial on there for literally everything. Still wouldn't know how to put the tow hook in my car, still wouldn't know how to select the spin cycle on my washing machine, still wouldn't know how to change the setting on our garden lights.

But, if you want to live screen-free just get rid of your smartphone on 8th March when they go back to school. Get an old-style nokia for calls.

Bettyboop82 · 23/02/2021 21:13

I totally agree. My eldest child is only 3 (almost 4) and I have restricted screens as much as possible so far. No iPad/tablet etc and limited TV (maybe 1 hr total each day). I dread the days I wont be able to control screen time but I am very aware that one day this will come!

VanCleefArpels · 23/02/2021 21:15

At 12 having a decent phone becomes more vital for social purposes. Without one she will quickly become an outcast and I don’t use that word lightly.

SoberCurious78 · 23/02/2021 21:18

Don’t know why you’re getting narky comments. I know what you mean, screens have been a godsend however it’s turned my children into screen addicts. I used to be so strict about screen time but hard to do now as everything is on a screen ☹️

Xerochrysum · 23/02/2021 21:21

If you want screen free life for kids, then you have to start first. Can you do it? That means no MN either. It's quit funny you say you want screen free life and posting on MN, tbh.

IndecentCakes · 23/02/2021 21:31

Screens have made my life so much better! For those people with poor hearing, it's made many of us very happy and far less isolated Grin

Pedallleur · 23/02/2021 21:36

Genie is out of the bottle. I don't like the screen society and our reliance on IT. But that's the way it is. Can you manage without screens? If not you are part of the problem.age old story of technology advancing and impacting on our lives.

Holothane · 23/02/2021 21:51

We blind and partially sighted thank god for screens and or speech life is so much easier now shopping for a start and I mean food shopping, especially with arthritis. It’s a godsend I love you tube for all sorts of history films documentaries.

Passthecake30 · 23/02/2021 21:51

11&12 year old here. They stare at screens until the time they’re not allowed to (7.30pm) and then they stare at books. I’ve lost my shit and said that they are never getting any craft/creative stuff from me ever again. There’s a ton of it here, that they asked for and never touch, a lot of it fairly expensive/specialised equipment. It would be great if they could get a bit more balance in their lives, but I think it doesn’t help that they are in that in between age where they are too old to play with toys and too young to just hang out with friends (Covid-excepting)

SleepingStandingUp · 23/02/2021 22:07

I don't think people are being narky @SoberCurious78 but we've had nearly 12 months of lockdown where many people have only managed to get food, get information, get education via screens. Where people's only communication with friends and family has been screns. Where people have only been able to work safely because of screens.

grapewine · 23/02/2021 22:09

Lockdown without screens and the internet would have finished me. So I can't get behind this. It's too late anyway.

RubyFakeLips · 23/02/2021 22:14

I just don’t understand why you’re fighting this battle.

This is the world now. What do you envisage, she will use screens less as she gets older? It won’t end, she will want and need to use screens more and more.

As a previous poster said, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’m sure this is the same as all the oldies decrying rock and roll, or the need for school.

stilllovingmysleep · 23/02/2021 22:24

I'm reading a book at the moment called Digital minimalism by Cal Newport

It makes some really interesting and valid points about how and when to use screens according to values and choice, not all the time and indiscriminately

Original poster
Libertyfree · 23/02/2021 22:52

Yes of course I understand the benefits of screens for majority of population and especially during the pandemic.
The point I’m trying to make us that we’ve somehow lost our “soul”. I know we can’t go back but it’s just a fantasy every now and then.
Snd yes I frequently have no screen days myself.

OP posts:
Original poster
Libertyfree · 23/02/2021 22:55

The digital minimalism book sounds good. Will check it out thanks.

OP posts:
audweb · 23/02/2021 22:57

Meh you can get your kids to go back. First lockdown my seven year old used screen time all the time (lone child, single parent working situation). The minute restrictions eased and she could play outside with friends and school returned, screen time reduced. The minute we could DO things that were interesting, she reduced screen time. Listen, I can be barely be bothered doing something exciting in the house in lockdown - lots of adults are feeling lethargic and unmotivated, no wonder our kids feel the same way. But soon she’ll return to school and life and trips to the beach and play outside with friends and seeing family. - screen time will reduce. I can’t find it in me to get worked up about it. I don’t think we have lost our soul - we simply needed something to help cope and connect with the world. Screen time has saved my sanity - without it there would be no other adult human company.

BogRollBOGOF · 23/02/2021 23:25

20 years ago, we just wouldn't have had all these lockdowns and restrictions.
Dial-up would not have coped with WFH.
No video calling, or certainly not in a reliable way.
Fewer internet compatible devices; desktop comupters rather than laptops, no tablets/ smartphones
Online retail was very much in its infancy.

We'd have had to have cracked on with living in the real world far, far sooner.

SleepingStandingUp · 23/02/2021 23:27

We'd have had to have cracked on with living in the real world far, far sooner and the death rate to go with it