Overcome Screen-Time Battles

5 ideas to make summer memories without the glow of a screen

- Melanie Hempe

Picture the scene: Your kids spend most of the summer begging for more screen-time, while you beg for relaxing afternoons on the back porch, casual dinners together and opportunities to build family memories. The good news is that you don’t have to tiptoe through the minefield of screen-time battles during the break. With some advanced, creative planning, this summer can be one filled with memories that last a lifetime.

Mood Swings and Meltdowns 

More time on a screen means less time for outdoor movement, creativity and building face-to-face friendships. Video games and social media stimulate the overproduction of the same brain chemicals that cause addiction. After about 30 minutes on a screen, the limbic system — or pleasure center — in a child’s brain is overstimulated. When this happens dopamine and adrenaline spike, and extra cortisol — the stress hormone — is produced, creating the perfect storm for mood swings and meltdowns. Without any limits in place, you can ensure a summer that includes arguments and family stress.