Screen-Free Week — How To Replace Screen Time With Green Time

Kids are spending an exorbitant amount of time glued to their electronics these days. The latest survey by Common Sense Media found that American teenagers ages 13-18 spend an average of six and a half hours of screen time per day on social media and other activities like video games. Screen time continues to increase as kids are online more during the school day and for socializing with their friends.

One way to balance out all this screen time is to get outside and engage with nature, which has been shown through scientific research to have an abundance of health benefits. All of us need healthy breaks away from screens throughout the day to recharge and get back to a balanced state, both mentally and physically. Spending some time outside will help kids relax and then come back energized and inspired as they continue with their day.

Build in some green time to replace screen time

Every year, the organization Fairplay For Kids organizes Screen-free Week during the first week of May to shine the light on the importance of taking breaks from screens. Screen-Free Week is an annual invitation to play, explore and rediscover the joys of life beyond ad-supported screens.

Even though this week is about turning off screens, much of our lives depends on the digital world. We use technology to pay bills, order food, fill out forms before visiting the doctor, keep up with family and friends; and communicate with our children’s school, our own work, our kids’ schoolwork, and more.

Instead, let’s spend time during Screen-Free Week to start building a nature habit to turn some screen time into more green time. An hour once dedicated to YouTube becomes an hour spent outside on a family bike ride. Ten minutes scrolling on social media can be replaced with ten minutes taking care of a pet or plant. Instead of watching a movie on a rainy afternoon, we can use that time reading and learning about nature.

Ideas to get started

Here are some other ideas for replacing screen time with green time all year long:

• Instead of eating dinner in front of the television, take your meal out back or on your balcony.
• Instead of planning birthday parties where kids watch a movie or play video games, get a group together for a barbeque, swimming, or outdoor sports game. You might also plan an exciting adventure like camping, boating, kayaking, river rafting, mountain biking, or doing a ropes course.
• Instead of your kids locked away in their rooms with their computer doing homework, suggest they head outside to get some of their work done to enjoy the fresh air. Ask them to draft an essay the old-fashioned way with a pencil and paper to get a much-needed screen break.
• Instead of your kids making TikTok videos all day, get their creative juices flowing while engaging with nature. They can experiment with nature photography, drawing or painting nature scenes, nature journaling, writing nature poetry and stories, and even listening to music while relaxing in the backyard.
• Instead of hosting family holiday dinners at your dining room table, set up your gathering outdoors.

To get started with other ideas for swapping screen time for green time, take the Screen-Free Week Pledge and explore the list of 101 Screen-Free Activities.