Too much screen time?

My Mama Kat's writing prompt for this week: 

5.) Talk about something you were allowed to do as a child that you will not allow your child to do.

I will be writing about something that I was allowed to do which we do not allow my stepson to do. That is play video games and on the computer without a limit.

When I was younger I enjoyed spending time with:

Of course, they weren't as "fancy" looking then! They were all pixelated looking. I don't remember my mom ever telling me it was time to stop playing or I couldn't play right then. I also don't remember my mom having to tell me to go play outside. I wanted to do a fair share of both. I wasn't so addicted to Mario that I couldn't set down the controller. 

We have to have a limit for my stepson. There would be no end, if it wasn't forced by us. This, certainly, means we are the meanest people who walk the planet. We don't care. We want him to be able to entertain himself, without being attached to an electronic. 

Guess what? When we tell him time is up, he may be a little pouty, but he does other stuff! He will all of the sudden notice the multiple toys that lie around his room ignored. He will pick up a chapter book and start reading. He will go outside with his dad and play in the sunlight. None of this happens on it's own though. He would happily play DS, Wii, etc for hours on end if we don't intervene. 

We have instituted "Turn it off" Thursday. When he is here on Thursday, usually from 3-8 all electronics are turned off. Yes, *gasp* even ours. We put away cellphones, laptops, and gaming devices. We get out books and board games. We talk as we cook dinner. We play Sorry!, Pictureka, and other fun games. We interact with each other as human beings. Today will be our third "Turn it off" Thursday. I can tell you, even as a 28 year old I was nervous to "unplug" from technology. It felt great! I have really enjoyed dusting off the board games and laughing because one of us gets knocked back to start when we are about to win. It is good family fun! 

Get out there and unplug for a day! Try it out. See what fun your family can have without using electronics. If nothing else, limit yourselves so that you can interact without a bright screen in between you at some point. Maybe create a family reading hour? Not everyone needs to read a book, a magazine would do. 

Please share with me if you decide to take on a day unplugged and I hope you enjoy as much as my family has enjoyed our Thursdays!