Helping Teens Break Free From Screens

Many parents know their kids are spending too much time on screens, fully aware that all of that screen time is negatively impacting their children in multiple ways. Resisting the powerful digital pull is hard enough for adults, let alone their children, and no parent really wants to be the screen police. In the waning days of summer, what if we reframed the challenge from “restricting” to “reclaiming”? Reclaiming time, energy, focus, independence and curiosity.

Awareness

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, faces numerous lawsuits alleging that it designed some of its platforms to encourage compulsive use among young people while downplaying potential harms. Regardless of the legal outcome, many experts agree that social media platforms are intentionally designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible. Nothing is truly “free” in the digital world, and corporations like Meta are making enormous amounts of money off our attention, while offering the illusion of connection and the reality of increased levels of anxiety and depression and decreased levels of wellbeing and face-to-face interaction. No one likes to be used or manipulated. In a very real way, putting down our screens is an act of rebellion and resistance, and what teen, or adult for that matter, can resist a little of that?

There are plenty of things to appreciate about the role technology can play in our lives. However, it’s good to remember that it’s a tool, and even better to really understand who (or what) is ultimately benefiting from our reliance on it. Becoming more conscious of when and how we use it means taking back some of our autonomy and independence. It’s a lot easier to encourage someone to leave screens behind when you can offer an alternative.

Need a place to start? Here are four screen-free alternatives your teen might actually enjoy.

Adventures in Audio

Found Sound is a new book from author Meg Wolitzer and her audio engineer son, Charlie Panek. In this thriller/mystery, 11-year-old Felix Frank finds a secret box with an audio recorder. The discovery leads to an adventure where Felix and his neighbor, Marigold, follow sound-themed clues to solve a puzzle, and the reader learns about the science of sound along the way.

While the novel is geared toward younger readers, a portable digital recorder is a device for all ages, opening the door to creatively and actively engage with technology while leaving your phone behind. Basic recorders are available for around $30, and for roughly $100, you can find one with plenty of extra features. If you have some spare cash, you can add in a variety of external microphones to enhance the quality of your recording. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Record local musicians or your friends’ bands.
• Interview grandparents or neighbors and preserve their stories.
• Start a podcast about a favorite hobby or interest.
• Record friends reading their poetry or short stories.
• Use a free transcription tool like Otter.ai to turn interviews into stories or family keepsakes.
• Create a neighborhood newsletter featuring the people you meet.

Learn a Yarn Craft

They might not be the “devil’s workshop,” but idle hands definitely make it harder to resist the lure of a digital zone out. Learning to knit or crochet is a fun challenge that occupies your mind and your hands. Once you get the basics down, you can even hit that proverbial “flow state,” where your brain is relaxed and focused, which is the opposite of what happens to your mind when you scroll endlessly through a social media feed.

You just need a few supplies to get started. There are countless websites and video tutorials for beginners, but if you want to polish your social skills while you learn, consider visiting a local yarn store, such as Get Stitchin’ near 61^st Street and Memorial Drive, which offers classes.

Go Green

Find time every day to head outdoors without your phone. Studies suggest that being in nature, even for short periods, can reduce stress and improve mood, focus and memory. Try this:

• Spend 10 to 20 minutes outside each day.
• Sit in your backyard and simply observe what’s around you.
• Take a walk through your neighborhood.
• Visit a local park.
• Go for a hike if you have more time.

You’ll be amazed at what you notice and how you feel without your phone as your constant companion.

CHEBOTKEVICH/Getty

Replace Addictive Doomscrolling

Many of the very same features that are used in video slot machines to keep folks gambling appear in some of the most addictive phone apps. It’s no wonder it’s difficult to resist the mindless, and endless, draw of a social media feed. They are engineered to capture and keep your attention. Replacing even some of your scrolling with simple, low-effort activities may help. Instead of scrolling, try:

• Macramé
• Needle felting
• Zentangle drawing
• Coloring mandalas
• Any simple arts-and-crafts project that lets you enjoy the process instead of striving for perfection

These activities allow your mind to wander without many of the mental and physical side effects that can come with endless scrolling. No one is suggesting that it’s possible, or even desirable, to completely give up screens. However, swapping out at least some online time for offline activities can have positive benefits for your child—and for you. Use this month to experiment. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

Julie Wenger Watson is a freelance writer who’s worked in all aspects of music promotion. She’s also Co-Director of “Live From Cain’s,” a public radio show pilot.