By far the biggest struggle we have with our kids is over screen time.
Before we had children, we were convinced we’d barely let them watch TV at all. Now we’re lucky to keep it under two hours a day. They’re big enough now to navigate their way to their favorite streaming services and find their favorite shows. And when we finally seize the remote and turn it off, a full-fledged fit often ensues. We congratulate ourselves for not letting them have phones like many of their friends do. But the truth is they’re constantly grabbing ours to play games.
The struggle, as they say, is real.
Reading Bonnie Kristian’s article on the topic reminded me that the struggle is even harder for families with less-than-ideal situations. We have two parents, a yard for the kids to play in, and my wife stays home with the kids. Just think how different things are for a single-parent family, living in a small apartment, where the kids can’t go out in the yard to play. For these kinds of families, the typical advice on the topic of screen time served up by well-meaning Christian authors is difficult, if not impossible, to apply. It was a good reminder that while we all struggle to limit our kids’ screen time, the struggle is much harder for some. Read: Blessed Are the Rich, for They Can Afford to Limit Their Kids’ Screen Time.
It's not easy for every family to get their kids outside, but churches can—and not just to play, but to serve the community. Check out our resource: Top 10 Outdoor Service Projects for Children.
