In this fast-paced world where technology is at the tips of our fingers, parents are constantly faced with the everyday decision of how much time kids should be spending on smartphones, iPads, and video games. While one mom of five thought she had things under control limiting her kids’ screen time, the results of a complete “screen detox” made her think again.
Molly DeFrank, a blogger and mother from California, had limited her children’s screen time to only an hour a day but noticed that even then it was hampering their creativity and causing them to act grumpy.
After that, DeFrank and her husband arrived at a decision to pull the plug immediately and make the kids, who are all under the age of 10, go on a screen detox for a month. When the parents told the kids at dinnertime about their new rule, unsurprisingly, they were unhappy and protested against the decision. However, after a few tears, everyone moved on.
“What happened over the next few weeks blew our minds,” DeFrank added. “It was like we flipped a switch: We had our kids back. They were more obedient, less grumpy, played better together, more creative and happier.”
DeFrank admits that although initially she was terrified and thought that her life would become a lot more difficult without “electronic babysitters,” it seemed like quitting screen time was a lot easier and sustainable then she had imagined. The 30-day detox became a lifestyle overhaul for the family, and it changed their lives for the better.
She continued: “They grabbed their own books and joined us. At restaurants they bring a stack of books instead of propped ipads. My daughter has grown five reading levels in seven months.”
DeFrank also said that her daughter was just reading nonstop and has admitted being glad that their family went into a screen detox.
However, the change didn’t just occur with her daughter; DeFrank also found that her son started to take family art classes. The entire experiment led her to find out what her kids were really interested in, which she admits not knowing before.
Amazed by the results, DeFrank encourages interested parents to try a screen detox for themselves and check it out for themselves.
“I would say step one is to quit screen cold turkey for a specified amount of time,” she said. “Then, watch the results and make a plan that works best for your family.”
She further added, “[W]e find that less screen time in the toddler years corresponds to lower rates of ADHD by the age of 7.”