Kids today are still just kids. We get them for five days at a time in the summer. We do not allow watches or electronics. And I t takes a solid day or two for them to detox. And then they’re kids with their hands and feet in the dirt, playing basketball, picking flowers, and petting chickens. They didn’t know they liked lying in the grass and counting shooting stars until we asked them to try.
Everything at camp is “challenge by choice,” meaning they have to option to refuse any activity at any time. Turns out they didn’t know they love hiking. They didn’t know they were strong enough to climb a rock wall or brave enough to swim in the deep end.
I know my perspective and experiences are limited, but I have a lot of hope for kids today.
I agree. Kids are still kids; they are having to navigate uncharted waters and it shows in their behavior.
My kids have no personal screen devices, and we have at least one "no screen day" a week, and they have daily limits, too. Also, no screens at mealtimes, no screens in bed, and no screens in the car. I'll admit that I love the silence and peace that comes when they all have their eyes glued to a screen, and I routinely tell my kids to go put on a movie on for the toddler. But my kids don't object when it's time to put the screens away, and they choose to play away from screens more often than not. It took us awhile to find a balance, but I'm glad we persevered.