Screen Time for Summer

As our lovely summer continues to fly by, one of the greatest challenges at our house (besides the cicadas, but they are pretty much gone, thank goodness!) is deciding how much screen time is appropriate.  "Screen Time" is defined as any time in front of a screen:  television, computer, video games, even handheld games and phones.

Of course, many discussions (read: arguments) have ensued mostly between mother and sons over how much is enough.  I've read that two hours per day of ALL screens is sufficient and acceptable.

Well, two hours simply isn't sufficient around our house, even for me.  I'm somewhat of a television addict, and between watching at least an hour (or more) of tv per day and checking email as well as looking up "fun stuff" and watching the news, and maybe playing a game or two once in a while (my latest obsession is Hanging With Friends, a version of the old "Hangman" game and yes, I do enjoy Angry Birds), I don't even keep Mom's Screen Time to under 2 hours.

This summer I've tried to make it our goal to spend as much time OFF as we are ON Screens.  So this morning my son and I went for a 1.8 mile walk on Grant's Trail, which took about 25 minutes.  Then we came home and read for a while.  We try to get in our outdoor activities before the heat sets in, and also we try to avoid being out during the strongest sun hours due to our skin cancer history.

Next week we are going camping for 2 nights with a few other families, during which I plan to hopefully be on Official Declared Screen Time Vacation.  We'll see if I can resist sneaking off to the car and checking Facebook on my phone, that is if I have a cell phone signal in the Missouri State Park we will be hunkered down in!

Today I was relieved that my son walked upstairs after getting frustrated with his friends during a rousing an online game called Minecraft.  He announced he was sick of everyone online and needed a break.  This after less than an hour.  Proud mama?  Yes.  Small victories are wonderful!  He said he would find something better to do.  Of course, that something only lasted about 20 minutes.  But then we ended up hanging out together and watching the finale of Top Chef Masters together.  (Have you seen this?  Top Chefs compete in challenges to raise money for their charities.)

Well, it was still Screen Time.  But isn't Screen Time with mom better than online gaming?  It was for me.