Thoughts on a near screen-free Toddler Christmas
It is that time again. Christmas has flown by, and the bells of Hogmanay have rung out. After the hustle and bustle of the festive season, the world has entered its phase of re-emergence into the normal daily and seasonal cycles.
After every festive season, I always feel a little blue as I love the lights and colours of Christmas. Reflecting on this Christmas period looking after a toddler that was screen-free the entire festive period it has given me some pauses for thought and reflections.
Although it was not 100% Screen-free, it was restricted to an absolute minimum.
These reflections cover both parenthood and life in general.
Playpark on Christmas Day: Getting out makes life fun
The last two weeks out and about with my toddler have been a blast. We have been stomping in puddles, crunching on icy grass, looking at cool mushrooms, seeing rainbows and playing at the park on Christmas day. The festive period has been about being outside in the fresh air and playing in the real world.
The highlight for me was walking through the town centre to the playpark with the big sandpit with my toddler and saying ‘Happy Christmas’ to everyone we passed, which was only a few. We had the big sandpit all to ourselves and it was a magically few hours with the world in its Christmas quiet.
This might not be everyone's taste, however, we had an amazing time, and it was a memory that will stay with me forever. Being in the house could never have produced this.
Weather cannot be a roadblock
In Britain, we have allowed the “weather” to become a roadblock too often to get out in the fresh air and life. We spent far to much time locked up in our homes when the weather was not that bad. I mean we should be used to it.
We all use the weather as an excuse.
Gifting for toddlers: less is more
My wee one had a relatively restricted number of presents (with the rest being slowly opened afterwards). This kept Christmas from becoming overstimulating and focused on enjoying the presents he did get to open.
Although with an eight or nine-year-old, this would not work, with a toddler, it created a magical ‘Santa’ moment, stimulating them too much. It also means each present gets played with and used, instead of just being another shortlived toddler dopamine hit.
Screens are destroying Childhood (and life in general)
A million billion words have been written on the evils of screen time.
This Christmas we watched maybe two episodes of Sarah and Duck every other day. Our toddler is just happier.
Screens are stealing from us.
They are taking us away from our families and for small children they take attention away from the real world and real people.
I like everyone am not perfect, but turning off the big screen in the corner really helps.
Traditions matter, BUT relaxation matters more
The traditions of Christmas steal away the women in our lives. Endless, cooking is a start. For a very long time, my partner and I have not done (when home) traditional Christmas dinner for over a decade. We just have a nice simple easy dinner of things we like. It frees up time together.
Moving forward, we need to dump so many of the Christmas traditions that create high workloads and swap them for new traditions that facilitate.
Pizza for Christmas dinner anyone?