Michelle, Day Hiking Ambassador
We currently live in an era where screen time is considered the “norm.” Everyone has some type of a screen in their home whether it’s a phone, tablet, computer or that mesh thing that covers windows and stops the bugs from coming in during the summer time (I’m joking about that last one). But with all jokes aside, screen time is seriously affecting the way we are raising our children. We no longer give our child a pot and wooden spoon to play with while we cook dinner but instead we put screens in their face justifying it usually with “but it’s an educational video.”
I get it. I understand why some parents use screens to entertain their children but screen time should never replace outdoor time.
Did you know that according to the U.S National Library of Medicine most American children spend about 3 hours a day watching TV. Added together, all types of screen time can total 5 to 7 hours a day.
Too much screen time can:
Make it hard for your child to sleep at night
Raise your child’s risk of attention problems, anxiety, and depression
Raise your child’s risk of gaining too much weight
During the winter the amount of screen time tends to increase. So how can we reduce the amount of screen time our children are exposed to?
GO SNOWSHOEING!
It’s an infant friendly, kid friendly, teenage friendly winter activity that the whole family can enjoy. It doesn’t take a lot of equipment; you really just need winter clothes and a pair of snowshoes. Snacks and hot beverages are good motivators and you will create memories that will last a lot longer than a 30-minute video of iCarly.
There may be such a thing as “too much screen time” but there will never be such a thing as “too much snowshoeing.”