As someone who enjoys the convenience of modern gadgets, I often find myself at odds with the behaviors that come from constant screen time. I dislike the feeling of needing to check my messages incessantly, the moments I inadvertently tune out my children while typing replies, and the endless requests from my kids about when they can use their devices. The constant negotiations about app downloads and screen time can become tiresome.
Recently, my partner and I decided to do something a bit unconventional in our tech-obsessed lives: we left the tablets at home during our family vacation to Mexico. To be fair, we didn’t leave our devices behind. After all, we had some very important matters to attend to.
This trip turned into a social experiment for us. Considering a flight with a layover, customs wait times, and a taxi ride to our hotel without tablets or movies seemed like it could lead to chaos. However, when we informed the kids that their tablets would be staying home, we were pleasantly surprised. Instead of throwing a fit, they enthusiastically brainstormed alternative games and activities.
The kids became eager participants in our little experiment. They engaged in hangman, journal writing, coloring, and reading together. While they did occasionally express a desire for their tablets, they mostly enjoyed playing at the pool and on the beach. They even picked up card games and created imaginary worlds together.
While our kids managed to get through the week without screens, it wasn’t without its challenges. This experience made me reflect on how pervasive technology has become in our lives. It prompted me to think about how we, as children, filled our days without smartphones, social media, and video games. Did we also drive our parents crazy with our incessant complaints of boredom whenever screens were out of reach?
Of course, we had our own distractions in the ’80s. We were the kids of Nintendo and spent countless hours on handheld games. We reveled in Pac-Man and Frogger, and we lived through the heyday of MTV and after-school specials. I recently asked my friends on social media what they did for fun before the age of iPads and smartphones, and I received a flood of nostalgic responses.
Biking emerged as the top activity. Back in the day, we rode our bikes freely around the neighborhood, much like Elliot and his friends discovering E.T. That sense of independence was a cherished part of our childhood.
The second most popular pastime was putting on plays and dance routines. Growing up in the ’80s meant dreaming of being the next professional dancer, inspired by movies like Flashdance and Dirty Dancing.
Here’s a list of activities we engaged in before the digital age:
- Unsupervised adventures: We’d leave home in the morning and roam freely until dinner.
- Creating mud pies: My sister and I had a particular penchant for this outdoor activity.
- Bug collecting: We gathered grasshoppers, ladybugs, and other critters.
- Playing WAR: A simple card game that entertained us for hours.
- Playing Cops and Robbers: Engaging in imaginative role-playing.
- Building forts: We’d use sheets and blankets to create our own hideouts.
- Playing baseball and kickball in the streets.
- Making mixtapes: The art of recording our favorite songs.
- Gymnastics in the yard: We learned flips and tumbles without the help of expensive lessons.
- Doorbell ditching: A classic boredom buster.
- Going door-to-door selling our services: Car washes, lemonade stands—you name it.
- Running through sprinklers: A summer staple when pools were scarce.
- Climbing trees: I once had a memorable fall, but it was all in good fun.
Those carefree days shaped my childhood, and I wish my kids could experience the same freedom. I wonder what they will look back on fondly as they grow up in a world filled with social media and screens. They may have plenty to teach us about connectivity in this vast digital age.
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In summary, while leaving behind devices was initially daunting, it turned into an opportunity for creativity and connection for my children. Reflecting on our childhood experiences serves as a reminder of the simple joys that can be found away from screens.
Keyphrase: Parenting without technology
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