I think yesterday's post and the responses it brought to the surface deserve a little debrief. I wouldn't own a book called "Kids, Parents, and Power Struggles" by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka if I didn't have my own parenting challenges. We all have challenges. Just like all the parenting books I've purchased or checked out from the library, I never read Kurcinka's book all the way through. I found what I needed in Chapter 2 and put it down.
In Chapter 2, Kurcinka explains "Emotion Coaching: The Decision to Connect" in the context of getting your child through a patch of misbehavior by choosing to make a connection instead of stopping the behavior with a parental disconnect. I'd like to think this idea can be generalized to the choice between plugging in to screen time vs. any other activity.
Listen to what Fun Orange County Parks readers suggested as alternatives to screen time yesterday:
- Do a puzzle with your child
- Include your child in the salon experience (bang trim, manicure)
- Provide drawing materials (Magna Doodle, blank paper, coloring books, crayons, markers)
- "I’d rather they read if we’re not having a passionate talk about whatever has entered their head."
- Finger weaving
- Cancel the appointment
- Games of "I Spy" and ABC games
- Singing songs together
- "I usually have my little girl sit in the chair next to me so we can talk"
Without realizing it, the commenters on yesterday's post offered up suggestions on how to CONNECT over a DISCONNECT.
As parents, we have this choice every day and in every interaction. Which choice will set them up better for success in life? Connect or disconnect?
