Screen Free Day!

Makena's summer bucket list included a day at home with no screen time. We don't really limit screens because they aren't usually a problem for us. Makena watches WAY more TV and has more time on the iPad than other kids we know, but she also doesn't crave or demand them as much. She will turn them off and go play when she feels like it, and she's learned so much that I see them as a valuable tool. She's not a child who doesn't get enough interaction from me, that's for sure! So, I thought her request to go screen free was interesting. I kept a (pen and paper!) log of how our day went-


7:30am I woke up, Makena was already awake and in the living room with Pam who was getting ready to leave for work.

7:45 Played with My Little Pony toys

8:00 Made signs and taped them to our phones, the laptop, the ipad, and covered the tv. (I cheated for 3 seconds just to snap this photo!)

8:15 Hadley woke up

8:20 Makena helped me make french toast for breakfast

8:30 Ate

8:55 Read to Hadley while Makena played with toys.

9:15 I brought out the wooden train track. Hadley just wanted to collect all the pieces and put them in a pile in her lap.

9:30 Washed the dishes while the kids continued playing.

9:45 Nursed Hadley, felt bored and wanted to check my phone. Hadley pointed at the TV and says "off!!" (meaning she wanted me to take that sign off and turn on the TV.)

9:55 We go out to the patio, I sweep and clean up while the kids play.

10:15 Gathered all the dirty clothes together to do laundry, told Makena to watch Hadley for a minute while I ran to the laundry room, but then realized we didn't have enough quarters.

10:20 Draw with chalk outside

10:30 Inside, Makena asked to play in the bedroom alone.

10:40 I start cooking lunch and see a text, fb message, and reminder alarm on my phone screen.

10:45 We have a pluot for a snack.

10:55 Time for an art project! We gather crayons and set them up with the canvas to melt in the sun.

11:15 Kids play with play-doh while I organize the craft closet a bit.

11:30 Nurse Hadley and trim her nails

11:45 Eat rice and lentils with green beans for lunch

12:00 Eat chocolate pudding with strawberries and whipped cream

12:10 Read books

12:15 I washed the dishes while the kids played in a fort

12:30 Go through the toy box and decide which toys to sell, organize the play kitchen food.

1:30 Nurse and rock Hadley while Makena plays in the bedroom.

1:50 Hadley's asleep!!

12:10 I lay her in the bed.

12:20 Makena and I do a ribbon wind sock craft.

12:30 Hadley is awake already!!

2:40 We all share an apple with peanut butter

2:50 It's too hot. We have some ice cream.

3:00 Play pretend restaurant

3:30 Rough housing a little on the floor.

3:45 Makena gives me a new hair style with lots of bows and clips while Hadley nurses.

4:00 Turn on the radio and have a dance off

4:50 Reading

5:00 Puzzles

5:20 Board Games

5:40 Get macaroni and cheese started for dinner

6:00 Eat

6:10 I hopped in the shower, but Hadley cried and tried to get in the bath the whole time. At 6:15 I got out and put her in the bath just as Pam got home.

6:30 Makena and I head out to The Cheesecake Factory to have some time together and for 1/2 price cheesecake day!

8:30 We get in the car to drive home. I can't believe the time, it feels so late!!

8:50 Get Makena in pjs and teeth brushed and in bed.

9:00 Hadley is asleep on Pam's lap, I lay her in bed and nurse her.

10:30 I get on the computer! Made it 24 full hours!!!!