The Juggling Act – Screen Demons
A family I know recently underwent a self-imposed `technology’ blackout for a week.
That’s how they described it. It didn’t mean they went without electricity or started growing their own food.
They simply decided to turn off all of the screens in the home… except for one TV – in the main living area.
It meant they could leave the mobile phone at home. There was no texting, no email, no Facebook, no tweeting, no gaming or online shopping, no blogging, and no Internet research of any kind.
They’d become overwhelmed by the daily bombardment and needed a break. They wanted to reconnect as a family.
They thoroughly enjoyed the vacation, though for the parents, the effect was marred by thought of how many e-messages were piling up waiting for their return.
When I heard about their mission, it got me thinking.
When you count up all of the devices that have a screen, you might be surprised to realize how many your household actually has.
Think about it - smart phones; tablets; laptops; portable DVD players; handheld gaming devices… the list goes on.
So, how many do you have?
At last count, we had 8!
Yes – EIGHT!
I could hardly believe it…
And yet, after consulting a few other families, I found that we are actually on the lower end of the scale.
And by the sounds of things, we’re on the lower end of screen usage too.
Well, the smart phones get a regular workout – all day, every day.
The laptops are well used too – by everyone in the house. Although, there are days that they are not even switched on.
As for the handheld gaming devices – well, their popularity comes in fits and starts – usually when a cleanout uncovers a long lost game.
We’re also a one TV family. I’ve never liked the idea of TVs in bedrooms (though it’s a lovely luxury in a hotel room).
The TV rarely goes on before 6pm and is usually off by 10pm. Often, it’s earlier because there are too many other things that we want and need to get done.
When I think of it, our kids don’t see much TV at all - because when you take out school, homework, after-school activities, play time and meals – there’s really not much time.
And yet, I know people who put their TV on in the morning and let it go all day as they potter about the house.
I know of others who turn the TV on in the bedroom, then fall asleep watching it at night.
I even know of two children, aged 8 and 10, who have their own portable DVD players and will often retire to their room to watch their own movies for hours on end.
Admittedly there’s no arguing about who wants to watch what.
But there is also no family sitting together. There is no learning about give and take – `we’ll watch what you want this week, if we can have what I want next week”.
It’s all seems very `me’ focused… but perhaps, a sign of the times.
A few years back, a friend moaned to me about his teenage daughter wanting a FRIDGE in her bedroom.
I laughed and thought it a joke… until he said that she already had her own microwave, her own TV, DVD player and phone in her room.
WHAAAAT?
I find that a bit sad.
I think it’s much nicer to have screens in a communal area. Then, even if though you are doing your own thing, you’re still in a social place.
It also means you can keep an eye on what the kids are watching or researching!
Having said all of that, I’ve suddenly realised I am something of a hypocrite.
With my new-found love for the iPad, I too have been switching on a screen in the bedroom.
Reading documents and e-books… and even checking out a couple of TV shows.
A guilty pleasure?
Indeed.
Follow Sally on Twitter @SallyEeles
