By Pia Shields
Well, I’m a not-so-tech-savvy mom of two. I still love writing my to-do lists on real paper with a pen, same with my pros-and-cons lists!
At the same time, I’m definitely not stuck in the stone age. I love playing around with creative tools like Canva, and I love movie streaming services because they mean fewer physical DVD boxes cluttering up the living room! Like everything in life, technology has its perks and its pitfalls.
At the end of the day, what I want most is for my kids to learn how to appreciate the simple things:
- Lying on a backyard swing with the warm afternoon sun on their cheeks.
- Curling up in a cozy pile of pillows with a beloved picture book.
- Tucking into mom or dad’s arms to listen to a story, or just getting a soothing back rub before bed.
Is it high-octane or flashily rewarding? No. There are no flashing lights, digital badges, or algorithmic dopamine hits. But learning to rest in a quiet moment is a life skill for their future that I truly want them to carry.
Laying the Right Foundation First
Of course, I want my children to be ready for tomorrow. They will learn how to use AI, computers, and digital devices, just like every parent hopes their kids thrive in modern society.
But we don’t have to rush it.
Do our little ones need AI algorithms or social media feeds to survive right now? Not at all. They need nourishing food, water, fresh air, and deep care for their physical and emotional well-being. None of that comes from an iPad screen or a TV stream. It comes from parents, grandparents, caring teachers, and playground buddies.
It comes from real-life human connection, warm touch, and undivided presence.
I am not anti-tech, and I’m certainly not campaigning to ban screens forever. I just believe in teaching things in the right order. Let’s guide them to use tools thoughtfully and safely. Let’s build the soft skills, empathy, critical thinking, and confidence they need to ask the right questions. That is how our kids will truly thrive.
The Evening Reset: 5 to 8 PM
I often feel a twinge of sadness walking down the street when nearly everyone around is looking straight down into their palm. Checking urgent emails, tapping through LinkedIn, or scrolling through feeds.
And look, I get it. We work hard, we balance schedules, and staying connected pays our bills. But if we’re deeply honest with ourselves, are we happy with where that constant connection leaves us? Do we like the speed of life? So many adults in their thirties and forties are burnt out, sleep-deprived, and overwhelmed.
Our generation wasn’t handed a manual on how to navigate endless digital noise, but we have the chance to give our kids something better.
After a long school day packed with strict schedules, bells, sensory input, and social dynamics, our children are exhausted. If it is exhausting for us grown-ups, it is doubly so for little people whose nervous systems are still learning how to handle overwhelm.
That is why carving out screen-free hours from 5 to 8 PM creates magic in our home:
- The decompression window: Giving little minds quiet space between the school bell and dinner lets their cortisol levels naturally settle.
- Connection over consumption: Those golden evening hours become a pocket for shared dinners, silly board games, craft messes, or quiet book time.
- A natural ramp-down to sleep: Stepping away from blue light and fast-paced stimuli eases evening meltdowns and leads to deeper, calmer rest.
It isn’t always easy. Even with an analogue soul, putting my own phone away takes conscious willpower. But when the screens click off at 5 PM, real life turns on and those ordinary, unplugged family moments are worth every second.
Let’s teach them the one skill no app can ever offer: how to slow down, connect deeply, and feel completely at home together.
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