2024-07-07 04:00:00
To lighten the mood at home, a family from Montérégie took on the challenge of taking a month off from the screens last May. The experience was so positive that the clan is continuing the practice and now they want to encourage other families.
“When you see such changes in a short time, you tell yourself it’s worth it. It allows us to communicate more with each other,” explains Anabelle Reiber, who shared her experience on TikTok, which led to hundreds of reactions.
The mother noticed that the screens made the members of the Montérégie family more “in their bubble”, confirms Rose, the youngest member of the Reiber family, 12 years old.
Photo by Maude Larin-Kieran/Agence QMI
“Sometimes we would listen to a series, then mom would ask us a favor. Many times, I said yes, but I didn’t go because I was too impressed with the series,” she explains.
Screens can create barriers to the world around us, which can make communication more difficult, says Carolanne Campeau, a screen-use risk prevention consultant for the PAUSE campaign.
“It can affect the quality of the exchanges we have as adults, but the same with children, both brothers and sisters, because it replaces the need to exchange with others,” she explains.
Hard to let go
According to a Léger survey published in June, 90% of Quebec parents would like to reduce the time spent in front of a screen for themselves and their family.
Of these, 37% say it would be difficult for them to do so, the survey shows.
Anabelle Reiber’s children had no choice but to find other activities to do to replace the time they spent on the tablet “in the pool” [en allant] play outside or [en écrivant] stories,” explains 11-year-old Anastasia.
The clan, however, allows themselves to watch a movie as a family on Friday evenings. Short periods of screen time are also allowed on weekends.
To try in the summer
The summer period is also the perfect time to try the experiment, says Carolanne Campeau, since young people are exposed to more activities that allow them to isolate themselves from screens.
“We have to at least [les premiers jours de sevrage soient] as exciting as what the screen would bring [aux enfants]. It’s a high level of motivation,” she explains.
The specialist especially recommends visiting festivals or even going camping. For its part, the Quebec Council for Early Childhood Education Services suggests building a cabin with sheets, going on a treasure hunt or even making kites.
«[En été] we have many activities here and there, we also have more access to the outside. You need fun activities,” she repeats.
The pause organization also offers resources for families who want to disconnect at the pausetonecran.com website.
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