Screen Time Alternatives

This post is sponsored by Hasbro, all opinions are my own

We hear a lot of conversations about “screen time” for kids - and there can be a lot of shame towards parents. Maybe you’ve felt it. I know I have - but I’ve also felt the reality of being a parent in 2021, with more to do and less support than ever. And sometimes, putting on PJ Masks is the only way to get my kids to give me 30 minutes to cook dinner!

The reality is, we don’t have enough information on the effects of screen time. Think about it: the first iPhone was introduced only 14 years ago, in 2007, the same year Netflix introduced streaming services. We’ve had iPads around for just over a decade, and while we’ve had television and video games around for decades, they’ve never been so portable, on-demand, and easily accessible. So as parents, we’re navigating in new territory - our kids are the ones that will be studied someday to see the effects of screen time.

And so while I love screens for breaks, for learning, for movie nights - I also want to make an effort to create boundaries and limit screen time when I can. The trick is, though, to not make it a BAD thing to take a break! Make it a matter of fact, and be okay with your kids being bored! Boredom is where they’ll find creativity and learn to cope without having a screen entertain them; they’ll figure out how to CREATE the entertainment!

Here are some fun screen time alternatives that you can teach your kids about:

1. Coloring: We love getting fun, new craft supplies to fill an “art box” that our kids pull from! Pro-tip, use colored pencils only - they don't make a mess like crayons and markers can!

2. Build a fort: Let the kids build a fort and get creative!

3. Magnetiles: these are great to help kids with their fine motor skills, problem-solving, and creativity!

4. Imagine bringing their favorite tv shows to life! One of the kid’s favorite options is bringing their favorite shows into the playroom! Parents, we recently got the PJ Masks Deluxe Battle HQ playset from Walmart, and it was a huge hit!

The best part about imagining bringing PJ Masks to life in our playroom is that they leverage their favorite episodes and funny lines that Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko say to create their own adventures! Inspired by the PJ Masks show, the Deluxe Battle HQ playset is equipped with the amazing Hero ID technology, which recognizes and reacts to the Hero ID-compatible PJ Masks figures with fun lights and sounds – it can also identify other character figures as good guys or bad guys. Our kids played for hours, and they all got along because they each had their character to play!

Now when we sit down to relax to watch the latest episode of PJ Masks, I don’t have to carry any guilt about screen time - I know that it's all about BALANCE!

The PJ Masks Deluxe Battle HQ playset is for ages 3 and up. Warning: Small parts may be generated. Not for children under 3 years. Requires 2 AA batteries (included)