Siouxland Magazine - Volume 3 Issue 1

Siouxland Magazine | Passion / 14
For adults, being active outside can improve blood
pressure, boost mental health, and decrease cancer
risks. So why not go outside in all kinds of weather?
• Think about quality. We know screen time is unavoidable,
so think about how you and your children are interacting
with screens. When not using screens for work and
school, choose things that are worth your time. Use it in a
way that promotes interaction, connection, and creativity.
For younger children, watch with them and talk through
what they are watching. Or use screen time to connect
with family you can’t see in person.
• Screen-free times and areas. Have time throughout your
day where you are intentional about being screen-free.
Meal-time and bedtime are great times to go screenfree.
Avoid having screens in bedrooms as the blue light
produced by a screen can effect the quality of sleep.
• Provide alternatives. It can be easy to forget what else
there is to do when screen time becomes a habit. Give
children alternatives like playing outside, doing puzzles,
making crafts, or building and creating. A quick google
search (I know, I know more screen use) on screen-free
activities for a certain age will give you many ideas.
• Let them be bored! “Boredom is the space in which
creativity and imagination happen,” pediatrician Dr.
Michael Rich, Director of the Center on Media and Child
Health at Boston Children’s Hospital, stated. Boredom
isn’t a bad thing. It helps children come up with lots of
great ideas for playing.
As we navigate through this pandemic, let’s live by
these words from Albert Einstein, “Rejoice with your
family in the beautiful land of life!”
Julie Boyle, an employee of the University of Nebraska
for 6 years. She is also a Nebraska Extension Educator
working with youth programs in Northeast Nebraska. She
has a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Exercise Science,
and a master’s in Child, Youth, and Family Studies.
Photo Contributed by Julie Boyle.
Nebraska Extension’s Mission: Helping Nebraskans enhance
their lives through research-based education.
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Stacie Anderson
Owner of Empowering Conversations LLC & Siouxland Magazine
Certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer & Coach
Passionate about Leadership & Communication
Empowering Conversations LLC, proudly publishing Siouxland Magazine.