I’ve noticed something when I am with my daughter and her husband, and it makes me very happy. When the work day ends, and they pick up their litte guy, the phones are put to the side. They are choosing to be present with him in the few hours they have together in the evening.

They are unavailable to others and I believe that’s the way it should be. Of course, there are exceptions with work or family emergencies, but as a general rule, evenings are “‘family time”.

I think this is worth talking about in every family. We all recognize the fact that too much screen time is not healthy. It’s not healthy for us as adults, and it’s even more unhealthy for our children. We are literally TOO AVAILABLE. We’re scrolling mindlessly, we’re comparing ourselves to others, we’re playing games on a screen rather than physically moving, we are NOT available to the people right in front of us, yet communicating with folks who are not in front of us.

Well, READING with our kiddoes is one way to ensure that we are present and that we are NOT looking at screens. When we read with them, we are physically close and cuddling. We are choosing to teach them or laugh with them. We are choosing to focus on them and them alone. This can bring calm to the end of a busy and hectic day. Both parent and child will feel relaxed, will feel connected, and maybe even learn a bit about animals, farm life, weather systems, volcanoes, or Bible stories…… you get it, you choose.

Booking time with our kids is a way of saying to them, “I’m giving you MORE OF ME and less of everything else, including time on my phone or computer.” It’s not easy, and it won’t always be convenient, but it’s certainly worth the effort, setting an example of life long habits. We all have the same amout of time; we have to choose how to use it. The benefits of putting the phone aside will be felt by both parent and child, and the benefit of reading together, well, that can last a lifetime.

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