FAMILY BUZZ
Screen Time
Wanda Felder, parent educator with the Minneapolis Public Schools, joined us for Parent Connect. She led us in a discussion about screen time. Here’s the information that she provided:
We live in the digital age. Our children do not know a time when we did not have cell phones and tablets. Technology changes faster than research can keep up. It is not inherently good or bad – it is simply powerful.
What does media use like in your home:
What type of media/technology do your children use?
What is your media/technology use like in a day?
What are the challenges of raising a child in a tech-filled world?
What the experts say: From The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) :
For children younger than 18 months, no screen time is recommended except for video chatting with family.
Use the 5 C’s of media use
1. CHILD
Because children are all different, the risks and benefits of media are different. What parents should consider:
What is your child’s personality? How does this influence what media attracts them and how it affects them?
Are they seeking out crazy content or is the media supporting artistic or musical talent?
Is the media feeding their social anxiety or do they have a supportive friend group online?
2. CONTENT
Content can influence a child’s positive or negative experience with media. Pay attention to what they are viewing. Watch for violence, rudeness and commercialism as these can affect their emotional state.
3. CALM
All kids need to learn strategies to manage strong emotions and to help them get to sleep at night. If media is being used for either of these, think about different strategies that can be used instead.
4. CROWDING OUT
It's possible screen time is crowding out other things your family cares about. Instead of just thinking about limiting screen time, think about what you want to increase, such as sleep, outdoor activities, creative endeavors, free play, etc.
5. COMMUNICATION
Talk about media use early and often. This is how children learn digital literacy. Recognize that this can be a stressful topic (especially with older children) so take a deep breath, be open-minded and ask questions.
Phones: Should we or shouldn’t we?
According to the AAP, children should be at least 13 before getting their own cell phones. A phone that doesn’t connect to the internet/social media may be a better first step.
Things to consider:
Preserving Childhood
Problem Solving
Social Awareness
Knowledge of Technology
Maturity
Family Need
Is your child with you or another trusted adult all the time?
Does your home have a landline?
Make a plan:
Discuss them with your kids. Here are a few example rules to consider:
Set screen-free zones (such as the bedroom, the dinner table) to strengthen family face-to-face connections.
Set screen-free times (such as during homework or before bed) so the media does not interfere with learning and sleep.
Have a "one screen at a time" rule and turn off devices not in use to minimize distractions.
Resources:
Media & Children from the Academy of Pediatrics which includes a resource to create a “Family Media Use Plan”
Summer Fun & Learning Ideas
Art - inside or outside, find things to create with… sticks, rocks, leaves, crayons, markers, scissors, glue, “junk” for sculptures (milk lids, styrofoam, popsicle sticks, etc.) Paint the sidewalk with water… what happens?
Bowling - Children ages 2 -15 years can sign up for free bowling! KidsBowlFree.com
Build - make a blanket fort, what can a cardboard box be?
Farmer’s Markets - there are many to choose from in Minneapolis. SNAP accepted, spend $10 using SNAP & receive $10 extra to spend on more fruits & veggies.
Garden - plant flowers, herbs, veggies. If you don’t have a yard, plant lettuce in a pot. Children are more excited to eat something they’ve helped to grow.
“I Spy” Neighborhood walks - Take walks often, each time looking for something different: numbers, letters, colors, animals, insects, traffic signs, etc.
Journal - keep a small notebook of things you do this summer. Children can draw pictures and dictate the words to be written down.
Library day - designate one day a week as “library day” Check out the website to see when story time is at your local library www.hclib.com READ EVERYDAY!
Museums - Children's Museum (EBT cardholders $3), Mill City Museum, Minneapolis Institute of Art (free), Science Museum ($15 family membership for those on assistance), Walker Art Center (kids free, EBT cardholders $2)
Parks - check out different parks/playgrounds in the area. Visit the wading pool. Have a picnic lunch or dinner. Check out movies and concerts in the park too! www.minneapolisparks.org www.ThreeRiversParks.org
Playdate - call a friend to meet at the park or come over to play.
Relax - lay in the grass… What do you see, hear, feel? Take time to rest!
Sculpture Garden - Free! www.walkerart.org See the spoon & cherry and so much more! Create your own sculpture at home afterwards.
Come to Calvary’s “Start the Party” Vacation Bible School, June 18-20, 5:30 - 7:30 PM, dinner included, contact amy@calvarychurchmpls.org for more info or to register. Ms. Ann will be there! Or check out your neighborhood church!
Woodlake Nature Center - Free! www.WooklakeNatureCenter.org 6710 Lakeshore Dr. Richfield Explore the great outdoors and visit the nature center. They have a great indoor area for rainy days.
Zoo - Como Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul is free!
Additional Resources: familyfuntwincities.com
Calming Kits
In preschool, we are learning about social/ emotional awareness, including how to name our emotions/feelings and how to calm ourselves when needed. Our friends from Meetinghouse Church in Edina put together calming kits for our families to have at home. They have similar items to what we use in our classrooms at Whittier Wildflowers Preschool.
Suggestions:
Keep the calming kit in a special place to be used as needed.
Practice the calming techniques when your child is calm.
“How are you feeling?” If the child is not able to say how they feel, “It looks to me like you may be feeling…”
Model calming techniques to your child. “When I’m feeling upset, I take deep breaths.”
Calming Ideas:
Comfort item - blanket, stuffed animal, etc.
Draw an angry/happy/sad picture,
Take a break - be by oneself for a while, look at a book
Cuddle, rocking chair
Sensory input - “Do you need a tight squeeze?”, play with playdough, water, sand
Taking deep breaths
Blow a pinwheel
Blow bubbles
5 finger breaths - run one finger up and down the fingers on your other hand slowly taking a breath in as you go up the finger and blow out slowly as your finger goes down.
More ideas for kids (and grown ups):
Take care of your basic needs
Take deep breaths
Drink water
Take a rest
Have a healthful snack
Move your body - stretch, take a walk/run
Sunshine
Mental health - therapy
Connect with yourself
How am I feeling right now?
Journal
Pray/ meditate
Be creative - write a poem, paint, knit, draw, build…
Connect with others
Call a friend
Meet for a walk/ playdate
Nurture relationships within a community, like in a faith-based community or neighborhood
Connect with nature
Garden/ have indoor plants
Pause to watch the sun rise or set
Notice the nature around you
Listen to the birds, water flowing, play meditative music
Navigating Transitions - Big & Little
Today, at Parent Connect, we talked about helping our kids navigate transitions. These can be little transitions, like getting ready for school in the morning, to big transitions, like moving, welcoming a new baby to the family, or going to Kindergarten. Below are a few thoughts. We’ll continue the conversation at our next Parent Connect on Wednesday, April 24th.
Children thrive on routine and structure. When children are aware of what to expect, they are more comfortable and less stressed. Keep to the same routine and schedule as much as possible.
Suggestions:
Let children know when a transition is coming. “In 20 minutes it will be time to leave for school.” Then again at 10 and 5 minutes. Perhaps use a timer.
Talk often about what to expect. At the beginning of the day, talk about what’s happening that day. “Today’s a school day and then we’ll stop at the grocery store on the way home.”
Have a visual cue or pictures (pictures of the day’s routine, a picture of your new home or school)
Have a countdown on a calendar or a paper chain until the big event (moving, last day of school, etc.)
Read books about the upcoming event (new baby, starting Kindergarten, etc.).
Role play - play with a baby doll and practice what it will be like when baby comes
Go visit before hand (visit your new Kindergarten over the summer and play on the playground)
Ask children how they’re feeling? “How are you feeling about going to Kindergarten?”
Family Schedules & Activities: Engaged But Not Overextended!
Thoughts from Parent Connect on 2/28/24
How are you currently feeling about your family schedule/activity level?
How is your calendar a reflection of your priorities/values?
Suggestions:
Take time as the adults in your household to have a conversation about your family's schedules. What are your values/priorities/goals? Does your family schedule reflect that?
Think about having regular routines/ time blocks for certain things (morning routine, sharing a family meal together, chores, free play time, exercise/outdoor time, screen time, bedtime routine, etc.).
Have a shared family calendar, so everyone knows what’s planned.
Having regular, intentional family time gives everyone something to look forward to. Examples: Pizza & movie or game night, Saturday morning donut & library day, time with faith community, Sunday dinner with extended family/friends
Free Activities to explore:
Inner City Tennis Super 4005 Nicollet Ave. S. Saturdays, ages 3+ https://innercitytennis.org/youth-tennis/super-saturdays-program/
Library free play areas and story time https://www.hclib.org/
Rosedale Mall play area, 1595 Highway 36 W Roseville
Minneapolis Parks & Rec- indoor and outdoor play areas https://www.minneapolisparks.org/
Ms. Ann’s Family Pizza Night Recipe
Our pizza nights evolved from frozen pizza’s to homemade pizza over the years. There’s something very soothing about making homemade dough! Store bought naan also makes an easy, tasty crust. Kids LOVE adding their own toppings!
Ingredients:
1/4 ounce package of active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons oil
2 1/2 - 3 cups flour
Makes 2 large thin crust pizza’s or 6 mini pizzas. It can be mixed by hand in a large bowl or with a stand-up mixer with the kneading attachment.
Dissolve the yeast in warm water and stir. While stirring add sugar, salt and oil. Begin adding the flour by a half cup at a time.
Knead by hand on a floured surface, if making by hand, for about 2 minutes, or in the mixer.
Cut the dough into the number of pizzas you want. On a floured surface, roll them very thin.
Place them onto a greased baking sheet, pizza stone or baking grate. Top as you’d like: sauce, pepperoni, veggies, cheese, etc.
Bake for 10 - 15 minutes.