Have I neglected this blog? Absolutely! Am I sorry? ...Possibly. Do I intend to change this week? Yes I do! But how can I be so sure?! Well.. because I'm going to live life by indulging in the "Screen-Free Week" (*insert your quizzical glances here...*)
The Brampton Stake Presidency has come up with a plan for all of its members to be spiritually prepared for Sunday's Stake Conference. In doing so, they have implemented a "media fast" for an entire week! This is basically just modern-day torture (or so I first thought..). This means no television, movies, internet (*gulp*), popular music, unnecessary texting/calling, or basically anything fun.. (can you tell I started out this challenge as a Lamen or Lemuel?...)!
Anyways, the more I reflected on this opportunity to spend actual quality time with my family, I started to change my mind and am sort of looking forward to this "Screen-Free Week" (...or "Operation Anti-Elmo" as I lovingly refer to it as...). You see.. my family is addicted to technology. The majority of our spare time revolves around us using some form of media or another. This includes (as I openly admit to being a lazy, pregnant mother) my 20 month old son who honestly doesn't go a day without watching Elmo (....for more time than I'd care to admit). It has become the first thing he asks to do after breakfast, and the last thing he wants to do while he brushes his teeth. Its sort of ridiculous.. so much so that I find myself loathing that little red monster! So a week without Elmo (or at least as MUCH Elmo) and a chance to strengthen our family relationships? Sign me up! And there you have it... Operation Anti-Elmo is now underway.
So what does this have to do with me blogging more if I'm not going to use the internet? Well... I'm chalking this up to being family journalling. I mean, its important to record our experiences/activities after all! And thus.. loop-hole blogging is now in session!
So tonight I sat down and did what I love to do most: make a list! I wanted ideas on how to survive a week without media and a toddler (...how freaking sad is that?!). After only a few minutes, I had a great list and I am excited to try some of them out. Looking for any ideas to test out on your little ones? So far I have:
- Splash Park (these finally opened for the season here in Toronto - yay!)
- Finger Painting in a Ziplock Bag (...buh-bye mess)
- Paper Plate Ping Pong (you get paper plates, a balloon, and some popsicle sticks.. fun!)
- Colour Sorting
- Bath Tub Watercolour Painting
- Homemade Playdough
- Homemade Giant Bubbles (Noah is a BIG fan of bubbles!)
- Pillow Floor Pile with Stories
- Play "Doing Dishes" (fill the sink and give him a sponge and some ladles)
- Dance Party (turn on silly children songs *yes, this is technically media* and dance it up!)
- Glow Stick Bath
- Rainbow Volcanoes (its the old vinegar/baking soda trick)
- Shaving Cream Painting
- Shave with Daddy (think shaving cream and popsicle sticks)
- Ice Cubes in the Tub (I let Noah play with a few ice cubes during his bath the other day and it was a huge hit. I currently have coloured ice cubes in the freezer for next time...)
- Go To The Park
Obviously within a week we won't get to everything.. but I like having choices! My due date is this coming week though, so hopefully we are able to fit in more activities than not with the arrival of a baby brother! Oh, and on that note.. I won't be posting about the baby's arrival on Facebook until the week is up: so if you want to be in "the know" you'll have to check back to the blog often! :)
