"On a recent trip, my daughter and I were tossing her stuffed animal around the hotel room. The toy spun around near the ceiling and came to rest on the corner of the TV, high above our heads. My daughter pointed and tried to explain where the animal landed, on the, the, the ... she didn't have the word for "TV." Yep, we had to tell our 4-year-old what that big, black rectangle was called."
"We didn't introduce any movies or shows to her at home, and we're still going strong four years later. At first, it was harder for us as parents to get creative with new activities, but we enjoyed the challenge. Instead, we spend a lot of time reading books and playing games. My daughter and I visit the neighborhood library together at least once a week."
Family moved cross-country and left the television behind, then chose not to replace it. The four-year-old did not know the word "TV" because none existed at home. Absence of a TV made no-screen rules automatic and simplified enforcement. Parents set a goal to avoid screen time and did not introduce movies or shows at home, maintaining that approach for four years. The initial need to invent activities gave way to enjoyment of creative alternatives. Family time shifted to reading, visiting the neighborhood library weekly, playing games, and exploring outdoors, with parents often opting for bedtime books instead of tablets.
Read at Business Insider
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