What comes to mind when you think of taking time to recharge your body and brain? Rest? Relaxation? Sleep? While watching TV or using a tablet can seem relaxing, going to those devices to recharge doesn’t actually give your body and brain the break they deserve. Too much screen time can interfere with your kids’ quantity and quality of sleep.

So what can you do to encourage screen-free recharging? Start with an hour. An hour a day to unplug doesn’t seem like much at first, but it will make a world of difference to your child. After all, an hour a day for a year adds up to 365 hours in a year! As your kids continue to spend time unplugged, encourage them to slowly increase that time and watch them blossom! Here are 5 easy ways you can take an hour to unplug and recharge your bodies and brains as a family.

Try a new game or physical activity. Replace one hour spent on the tablet with an hour of learning to play a new sport. Give your child the opportunity to run around and burn some energy to increase daytime energy and promote better sleep at the end of the day. This is also a super easy way to spend more time together.

Make a fun snack as a family. Everyone loves a snack that’s just as nutritious as it is delicious. By making snacks together, your child will learn a new recipe, develop stronger interpersonal skills, and learn about healthy relationships with food. Looking for an easy recipe option? Try this yummy Rainbow Fruit Pizza recipe.

Start a new book. Is it time to jazz up your child’s reading routine? Pick a new book, sit down, and read together aloud. Encouraging your child to read will also encourage them to use their imagination while enjoying quiet time.

Take a break. With a Take a Break Basket, your kids get the power to choose how they spend their quiet time. Is it puzzles? Music? Coloring pages? Fill your kids’ baskets with plenty of options so they can be in control of their quiet time.

Encourage writing. Writing and journaling encourage creativity and mindfulness. Give your kids a notebook of their own to create whatever they want. Maybe they’ll write a story, maybe they’ll keep a journal or draw. The only limit is their imagination!

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