Low-Tech Family Pact

06/08/2022

Let’s build lives for our kids and ourselves that we don’t need a distraction from, where we don’t think scrolling is better than actual living. Where we choose people over screens (SE - love this)

05/09/2022

Have a quick read - my favorite parts, own less technology AND don’t let kids hold phones because….they are for grown ups.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer here. In this high-tech, fast paced world, our family is making a radical move… we’re deliberately going LOW-t...

04/12/2022

Can we talk about manga? Though not exclusively a screen/tech topic - I’ve learned that most manga is not safe for kids EVEN THOUGH they put these books/videos in the kids section. I recently had a terrible experience where my child stumbled upon very inappropriate images in a book that we purchased from the kids section. I took it back to the store and the customer service person explained that this content is normal for kids in Japan….but why is it in the kids section in the US? Lesson learned. (I had even flipped through the book before purchasing it :(

04/01/2022

If your kids watch grown up youtube - please know they are being exposed to alarming content - check out the trending section on youtube and watch a few videos - know what your kids have access to. I was recently watching a new video and an ad came on that was the lyrics (sung and written) to "make up s*x" which is full of swearing and inappropriate content. There are very few rules to what can be uploaded to youtube. Protect your kids. You can't unsee and unhear things.

03/30/2022

As you give things your attention today, ask: is this getting me closer to who I want to become?

🏛-

03/24/2022

Wait until 18

“Come,” said the pencil to the boy, “and draw with me.” So the boy reached for the pencil, about to touch it to his sketch pad. “But I can show you a three-hour drawing condensed into three minutes,” said the Smartphone.

So the boy watched the drawing of a world map, complete with oceans, seas, and capitals, finished in three minutes.

“Come,” said the paintbrush to the boy, “and paint a river with me.” So the boy picked up the paintbrush, about to dip it into the sky-blue watercolor paint. “But I can show you a river in India, one in Alaska, and the largest waterfall in the world,” said the Smartphone.

So the boy watched videos of the Rivers Ganges and Alsek, and clips of Victoria Falls tumbling 5,600 feet into volcanic dikes.

“Come,” said the books, “and read about a lion that battles a witch and a ship’s journey into heaven.”So the boy opened one, curled up on the couch and began reading. “But I can give you the movie,” replied the Smartphone, “and a soundtrack that stirs your soul.”

So the boy closed the book, got up from the couch, sat at the counter, and watched the video.

“Come,” called the trees and birds outside. “Climb us, and listen to us sing.” As the boy stepped outdoors, the Smartphone called, “But with me you can play a game where you scale mountains while dodging man-eating vultures.” So the boy stepped back inside to play the game.

With his face glued to the Smartphone, the iPad next to him dinged: a text. The boy glanced at the message. Returning to his game, he heard a ping: an e-mail in his inbox. He read it and returned to his Smartphone, where a flashing Snapchat announcement obscured a bloodthirsty vulture.

Next to his iPad the pencil lay motionless, and next to the computer, the paintbrush untinted.
And beside his Smartphone, “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” lay with uncreased pages, the lion’s roar stifled, the witch’s cackle silenced, and the gate into Imagination closed.

💪 Childhood is too short. Delay the smartphone with the Wait Until 8th pledge.

💪 If you need to get in touch before 8th grade, get a basic phone. We have some listed on our website and our Instagram Story highlight .

💪 No social media until 16+. Take it a step further with the 18 for 18 challenge (no social media until 18 = $1,800 ).

💪 Model good tech behavior for your kids!

💪 Encourage creativity, exploration, reading, outside adventures, art, and movement.

Let kids be kids longer!

This story is by Jill Thomas and was in the Star Tribune.

03/05/2022

Yes, yes they will be left out.

If you delay smartphones & refuse social media until a time when their brains are more equipped to handle it, they will 100% get left out.

Left out of dangerous tik tok trends.

Left out of Instagram drama.

Left out of Snapchat n**e pics.

Left out of comparison and body image traps.

Left out of knowing what every friend is doing without them.

Left out of mindless scrolling.

Left out of living online.

Left out of pornsites.

Left out of addictive gaming.

Left out of burning bridges.

Left out of inappropriate conversations.

Left out of incessant bullying.

Left out of possible predators.

Left out of sleepless nights.

Left out of MA shows.

Left out of explicit lyrics.

Left of out losing their innocence.

Left out of endless distractions.

Yes, they are going to be left out.

And probably left out of some friend groups & cool crowds & middle school romances & meet ups & funny memes & weekend parties.

It’s a bummer but I’ll take it.

And I’m not naive enough to think that holding off on a phone, internet or social media takes away all the junk. Of course it won’t.

But it also doesn’t open the door and usher it in with my silent blessing.

Being left out is a small price to pay for a fighting chance at becoming the person they were meant to be in this crazy, mixed up world.

And if more parents would choose this path, it would be a little less lonely.

Heck, maybe even be cool.

But even if it never is, I am 💯 positive that I will stand my ground.

Because there are far worse things than being left out.

Thanks for this excellent post! Parents, this is a great account to follow.

Parents,

✅Delay the smartphone until at least 8th grade with our pledge!

✅Get a basic phone if you need to get in touch before then. We have some listed on our website and on our Instagram Story highlight .

✅Don't give a fully loaded smartphone when you do permit a smartphone. Start slowly. Take off the internet browser, games and access to the App Store. Put time and place restrictions in place via parental controls.

You've got this parents! 🙌🙌🙌

02/28/2022

Love this so much - just because it feels like the whole world says it's right, does not make it right.

What are your thoughts about what age kids should have a phone? 📱🤔

02/10/2022

If you have kiddos that use chrome books at school - review their slides and docs etc - they can use this to send messages to friends. This happens especially when the school policy is not to use their email to email their friends.

02/10/2022

Awareness - if your kids have access to an iPad where they use apps to watch shows/movies - check to ensure they stay signed in or check often to ensure they are logged in. I recently discovered that hbo max (where we have a profile set up for the kids with kid content only, and set the adult profile with a password) had logged out and when we went to log in it took us to the adult section Even before we were logged in.

10/11/2021

Love this.