We are surrounded by technology. I tried to keep my daughter away from it as much as possible when she was a baby, but as soon as she was old enough to walk around and explore the world around her, she found technology. She loves playing with phones and tablets, and she has her favorite TV shows. But it’s so important that we remember to take a technology break once in a while and enjoy some screen free family time. Today’s book serves as a great reminder that sometimes we have to put down the phones and enjoy life!

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Me, Myselfie & I: A Cautionary Tale was written by Jamie Lee Curtis and illustrated by Laura Cornell. This colorful and energetic story follows a family whose lives are overtaken by their mother’s newfound love of selfies. After the kids give her a smartphone for her birthday, she learns how to take selfies. She soon insists on taking selfies at every possible moment. The kids soon grow weary of her phone obsessed ways. In the end, the family learns that some of the best moments happen when we put down our phones and appreciate time spent together.

The vibrant illustrations and the rhyming text tell the story in a fun way, while providing the whole family with an incredibly important reminder. The message in this book is even more vital in the days of constant screen time. We all need the reminder to put down our phones and take a step away from the screens to see the life that is happening all around us.

Enter below for a chance to win a copy for your family!

Screen Free Family Time

When the Screens Go Off

I tried my hardest to keep my daughter away from screens from a young age, but it became increasingly harder as she grew. We can’t really blame kids for their growing interest in screens, when all the adults around them are constantly absorbed in screens as well. This book serves as an important reminder to turn off the screens and find ways to spend time together as a family. Below are some suggestions for screen free fun that you can have as a family. (Yes, I realize the irony of having pictures of these activities, but bear with me!).

Reading

Clearly if you are a follower of the site, you know that my daughter and I love to read together. Every night before bed, we snuggle in for a couple of stories. However, we also spend lots of time during the day reading as well. She loves to read on the swing in our yard, as well as in her playroom. She has boxes of books in every room of the house, as well as all of our cars. We also like to take trips to the library or the bookstore to check out new books. Even if your kids are older and prefer to read on their own, you can still spend time together each reading your own books.

Get Outside

We love taking walks around our neighborhood or playing outside. Take a walk around a different part of your neighborhood or city, and explore your hometown. Find local events or festivals and go as a family. In the story, the family goes outside and plays in the snow. The mother misses out on some of the fun because she is so busy taking selfies on her phone. Leave the phones inside and make your own fun outdoors. Jump in puddles in the spring. Play tag in the summer. Jump in the leaves in the fall. Have a snowball fight in the winter. There are always fun activities you can do together outside, no matter what season it is.

Check out these ideas for learning around your neighborhood!

Visit Local Attractions

Check out your local museums and learn something new together! We are lucky to have a variety of museums and attractions around us, and my daughter is just getting to the age where she can start to appreciate them. Walking around the zoo is one of her favorite pastimes. There are new things for us to discover and learn every time we visit, and I love how it helps her to build background knowledge that she then uses in our reading. Find out what museums, zoos, or attractions are available in your area, and learn about the different exhibits that they have coming soon.

Take a Class

Learn a new skill together. Lots of stores and community centers will offer free or inexpensive classes to teach you a new skill. Find something that interests you as a family and take the classes together. My mother and I have previously taken dance classes and painting classes together and we have had so much fun doing them. Even though she is only 3, my daughter and I have participated in gym and dance classes together as well. There are so many memories to be made, and you will have a skill or new hobby that you can share together.

Volunteer

There are always organizations that could use volunteers. Find a cause that your family cares about and volunteer together! Walk dogs at the local dog shelter. Serve food in a soup kitchen. Gather donations for a local shelter. Host a car wash to raise money for your favorite charity. There is an endless list of possible volunteer opportunities in every neighborhood. Not only will you be creating precious memories as a family, but you will be teaching your children about the importance of empathy and community.

Read these books about kindness to inspire you on your volunteer path!

The most important thing to remember with all of these activities is that you should do them without phones! Resist the urge to take selfies or view your life through the camera on your phone, and instead focus on what is right in front of you!

Thanks to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, you have the opportunity to win a copy of this new book for your own bookshelf! One winner will be selected. Contest ends 11:59 PM on September 5th. Click the image above to enter!

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