Chances are we’ve all been there… tons to do and a kid that you need to keep busy. Throw a screen at them and you’ve got a good chunk of time to get done what you need. And every once in a while, that’s not a terrible thing. But when it becomes the norm, and screen time abounds, we’re setting our kids up for problems. 

Many parents know deep down that having their kids on screens for prolonged periods of time is not good. There is ever growing research showing the detrimental effects of screen time. But when the moment strikes, we find ourselves out of ideas and giving in to “just one more video….” Here are 3 places to stop screens and how to make it happen. Depending on the age or your child(ren), you may need to tailor things up or down for their level.

#1 – Car

Whether it’s a long road trip or a jot down the street, here are some things to try in the car instead of screens.

Radio Control – let the kids pick the music. Whether it’s Siri, the radio, or whatever you use, let them pick what you’re listening to. Make games out of it by seeing who can think of the silliest song or the fastest song. See who can remember the lyrics. Make it fun and give them a little say.

Toyless Games – play games like I Spy, license plates, car colors, and more. Who can find the first license plate out of state? Who can find the next red car? What about a jeep? When I was a kid we punched each other for finding “slug bugs…” There are lots of games you can play without any toys. 

Toys and Activities – coloring books, travel Lego tables, card games, puzzle books… There are so many travel game options to entertain kids. 

Bag-O-Goodies – Have a long road trip? Put together a goodie bag. Simply purchase some cheap, smaller toys and/or treats. (A big collection of Hot Wheels can go a long way.) Set up the rules where on the hour every hour they get to pick one thing out of the surprise bag. Tired of hearing “are we there yet?” Add that they can only pick if they go the whole hour without asking. 

Audio Stories – get the whole car involved listening to an audio book or story. 

Maps – older kids can map out major stops along the way and keep the car updated on our journey. 

Bored… – kids being bored isn’t always a bad thing. Especially on shorter trips, getting kids to just occupy themselves is incredibly helpful in developing patience and imagination. 

#2 – Restaurants 

We’ve probably all seen the family that’s out to dinner and yet everyone is buried in a device. Maybe we’ve been there ourselves. Dinner and meals in general are wonderful opportunities for family connection. They are also wonderful opportunities for kids to make fools of themselves in public… Many of the same car ideas above work great at a restaurant. 

Going Out Bag – Having a “going out” bag for kids that contains things they don’t normally get to play with is a great way to keep them entertained and excited at the table. 

Ordering – as young as possible have kids start saying their own order. This will help develop confidence and social skills. You can practice at the table with them by role playing and asking follow up questions like “do you want fries with that?”

#3 – Bedroom

While it can be hard to keep screens out of many of our spaces, the bedroom is one we should strive hard to keep screen free. Between bluelight and overstimulation, screens are a quick way to disrupt sleep and the night time routine.

Books – it’s easy to just let kids watch a few videos before bedtime as they wind down but books are a better option for a number of reasons. The lack of blue light and stimulation coupled with learning and imagination make book reading a great option before bedtime. Take opportunities to include the Bible in your nightly reading routine.

Conversations – right before bed can present one of the best times of the day to have deep conversations with your kids. Whether it’s the winding down of nighttime or their desperate desire to not have to go to sleep yet, kids are usually more open to conversations at bedtime. This is a great time to talk about their day, have them ask questions, or chat about upcoming events. Lots of kids reach a point where they feel too old and cool to chat with you, soak in these moments while they are willing.

Prayer – establishing a nighttime prayer routine can be an important part of both our kid’s faith and our’s. It’s a great chance to reflect on who they can pray for, things going on in their lives, and get comfortable talking with God.

If you’ve been a big screen family, deciding to stop all of these at once may prove to be quite the battle. I recommend picking one to start with and growing it from there. It will be hard at first, but you’ll likely be thankful in the long run.