Screen Time

I just finished reading a book, Six Ways to Keep the Good in Your Boy by Dannah Gresh.  It was in my stocking.  Santa obviously knew I was concerned about keeping Parker good through his teenage years.  Who wouldn't be?  With all the ways kids can get pulled the wrong direction, I am constantly concerned how I can be a better parent to lead him in the right way.  I say "I" because my husband doesn't need much help.  He seems to always do things the right way.  I struggle.  I just want to tell him how to be with little faith in him involved.  It doesn't always work that way.

This book did have a lot of good information.  I would recommend it to anyone who has boys.  It was written by an author who is the wife of a pastor, so it is definitely Christian-based.  I took notes while I read.  One thing I have implemented already is the amount of "screen time" my children have.  I have really been strict on this, but now have made it even stricter.  I used to say "electronics", but I love "screen time"--anything with a screen (phone, tv, computer, video games).  They are limited to 1/2 of screen time on school nights and a couple of hours on the weekends (in case we want to watch a movie) and none on Sunday.  This isn't much different from before except I am going to be better at keeping track of how much time they are actually using.  It is also forcing them to find ways to be creative and actually use their imaginations more.  I have had more fun the last couple of days playing games and having the kids hang out with me.

It is the first few days, I will keep good record of how it is actually going.

However, I do like the term "screen time."  I'll keep that, for sure.

After reading, I now want Parker to:
-have more unstructured play time (i.e.groups of kids choosing to play red-rover)
-be read out loud to ...still
-have a weekly scheduled date with dad
-learn better money management