These kids don’t seem to be missing their cell phones while hanging out during a Footpath Foundation campout.
Guest columnist Mary Macias is CEO of Footpath Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting youth to the outdoors. She formerly worked as an attorney with theMichigan Children’s Law Center. She and her husband, Brian, have two daughters.
We don’t allow phones during outdoor programming at Footpath Foundation.
Kids are typically shocked by this. They complain, grumble and wonder how they’ll get by without immediate contact with the outside world.
But by the end of the day, we hear very different stories.
One youth said, “I didn’t know I liked being outside more than being on my phone.” Another called it “way better than gaming all day.”
Most happily admit that forcing them to step away from their phones — albeit temporarily — was a good thing. They talk to each other. They feel relieved. They feel less anxious.
Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned there.
As parents, we find ourselves worrying about so many things while also struggling to balance many demands. I think it’s fair to say that on any given day, we are usually doing the best we can and choosing which battles to tackle.
Among these worries is the use of technology, increased amounts of screen time and the mental health of our kids. We try to balance our worries with the cultural norms and hope our kids are going to be OK.
Lately though, for me, the worry is growing, as I keep hearing about the detrimental effects of screen time on our kids.
Studies from the Child Mind Institute show that kids now spend at least seven to eight hours a day in front of a screen, but only three to four minutes outside.
According to the book “The Anxious Generation,” the mental health of teens plummeted in the 2010s — and this can be linked to the use of smartphones. Teens started spending their lives behind their phones instead of interacting with friends and being outside.
The evidence is clear — social media is not good for mental health. We know the harm is real.
Perhaps you’re thinking, “Yeah, my kid is on a screen a lot, but she’s not on social media, so it’s OK.”
Is this true? What is the harm of kids being on screens for hours a day? And, conversely, what happens if we take phones away?
Ifwe take phones away even for a short time, what happens? It lets our minds rest and blocks out the noise. It forces us to think about other things and to interact with people IRL, as the kids say — “in real life.”
Think about that. We have initials to let us know whether we are talking about interacting with someone in real life vs. on a screen.
We need more IRL interactions and engagements. Our teens need to build connections with one another outside of online relationships. When we take away screens, they interact with others, feel interpersonal connectionsand develop critical thinking skills.
The good news is there seems to be a slow shift toward reducing screen time. Many schools are now requiring kids to put phones into pouches by the door. And some parents are requiring kids to turn in their phones each evening and putting time limits on apps.
Kids protest — at first. Then, like our Footpath campers, they express relief.
The hard part: Grownups are going to have to lead by example and be consistent — and that will take work on our part.
Someone suggested that if you find yourself scrolling or staring at the phone outside of work-related tasks, you should ask, “What could I be doing that’s more important than this?”
Answers will vary. But I would venture to guess that nine out of 10 times there is something more important we could be doing IRL.
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