How Ditching Screens Sparked My Son’s Creativity and Chatty Side

Jade, a mother from Felixstowe in Suffolk, has made a big change in her family’s daily life by cutting down her four-year-old son Reggie’s screen time for almost half a year. She noticed that since they stopped using screens like TVs and tablets, Reggie’s communication skills have improved a lot. Jade says that Reggie now talks more, uses a bigger vocabulary, and is more creative. She believes that when children are not sitting in front of a screen, they have more chances to talk and play, which helps them learn new words and express themselves better.

Jade explains that she is not completely against screens, but she feels that limiting screen time has been the best choice for her son. The idea started during a school break in February when they decided to have a week without screens while on holiday in Northumberland. After that week, they just kept going, and now it has been six months. Jade admits that it is sometimes hard work, especially when it would be easier to just turn on the TV. However, she believes that the benefits are worth it. She has noticed that Reggie is less likely to expect things to happen instantly, which often happens when children watch a lot of TV or play on tablets.

Jade is also a teacher, so she has many ideas for activities to keep Reggie busy. They spend a lot of time playing outside, and Reggie enjoys making “potions” by mixing colored water and paint in the garden. Even though they avoid screens most of the time, Jade says that Reggie still gets to watch a movie or an episode of his favorite Star Wars show once in a while. However, he does not ask for it very often. Jade believes that every family is different, and she does not judge parents who let their children watch TV. For her family, spending time together and talking has made a big difference. Jade also finds new activity ideas from other parents on social media, which she finds a bit funny since she uses a screen to help her son spend less time on screens.