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Their First Screen-Free Day

The Beginning of "Blackout-Days"

By Eadlyen GreenwoodPublished 7 years ago 3 min read
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I have been a nanny to three children for the past two years, I have watched these children grow, mature, and become addicted to technology, specifically, anything with a screen. Movies? They feel entitled to a constant stream of movies, no matter the time, nor their behavior. Phones? They see you with a phone in your hand and suddenly they want—no NEED—2,000 hugs and kisses as they peer at your screen and attempt to read over your shoulder (despite being 5, 3 and 2). The oldest demands Snapchat filters and pictures of herself as soon as she realizes that I am taking a photograph. As soon as their movie turns off, they are literally screaming at me to put another one on. It’s maddening!

I have to admit that I had a hand in their addiction to movies; however, I did not have a hand in the cell phone addiction (the eldest spent the summer with her teenage god-sisters). Now I am being driven insane on a daily basis whenever a screen shuts off, so what do I do?

Take all electronics away for twenty-four hours.

They cried, they screamed, they begged for a movie, but I reached into my bag, grabbed my earbuds, stuck them in my ears and pretended that I wasn’t listening. I began cleaning the kitchen as they complained about their television being off for the first time in months. After about five minutes of the complaining, the youngest and only boy began playing with his Hot Wheels and was fine. Content, happy even, as his three-year-old sister joined in. The five-year-old wasn’t going down so easy. She kept coming out of her room to tug on my shirt and attempt to bargain for a movie.

“If we get along for a while, can we have a movie?” She asked, giving me her best puppy dog eyes.

“No,” I answered plainly.

She would frown and walk away, only to return a few minutes later with another suggestion. “If I clean the living room can I have a movie?”

“No,” I answered again.

She stomped off and came back once again. “If I-“

“Nope.” I cut her off. “And if you come and ask me again, tomorrow you will sit in your room by yourself with no movies, while your brother and sister have a movie day with me, do you understand?”

Her bottom lip quivered as her green eyes glistened with tears about ready to spill over. “Yes.” She spat running away to cry.

I felt bad but stood my ground. I continued cleaning and poked my head in about fifteen minutes later. All three kids were playing ‘baby’ together. No fighting, no screaming, just playing. I walked away quickly before they saw me, but kept an ear out. They played all day long, not fighting about what to put on TV for once. They laughed, screamed, ran, jumped, danced, and then they slept through the night.

The next morning, they slept in until 9 am. I went in, turned off the cooler, switched on their TV and put a movie on. I went back to the other bedroom and listened. A few minutes later, I heard them stirring. The three-year-old got up and gasped. “Guys!” she said, “Movies on!” She squealed. I heard them sit up and nothing else. I leaned back in the bed, on my phone as the five-year-old wandered in. “Thank you for the movie,” she said, giving me a hug. I returned it and she ran out. One by one the rest came in and thanked me again before going and playing with their toys.

Throughout the rest of the day, they did not complain once about the movie being on the credits. They played until I came in and changed it. I believe they were ignoring it sometimes to play together.

I think we will have more "blackout days" in order to strengthen their bond as siblings. Our first was a rousing success and their mother loved the idea. Hopefully, as they grow, they will understand the joys of being screen-free sometimes.

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