Nurturing Free Spirits: A Stay-at-Home Dad’s Journey Beyond the Screen
“Kids don’t remember their best days of television.”
“Immerse yourself in nature with your children; eventually, their insistent complaints will be replaced by the joy of discovery.” – This is my mantra as I navigate the challenges of being a stay-at-home dad to two toddlers, while also striving to liberate my family from our overly-industrialized society and furthering my entrepreneurial pursuits.
One of my primary challenges is encouraging my children to play independently without constant supervision. This isn’t due to a lack of desire to play with them; indeed, I revel in the joy of interacting with them, guiding their adventures, and revealing the wonders of the natural world. The problem lies in the need to balance these precious moments with the laundry list of household chores and professional projects that fill my days.
The answer, I have found, lies in the great outdoors. However, the moment I usher them into the yard and retreat back indoors to tackle my to-do list, they often trail back in after me.
In today’s fast-paced society, many would propose that television is the solution. This modern-day babysitter, poised to evolve into a true being of artificial intelligence, captivates their attention in a way nothing natural seems to. But this hypnotic hold that immobilizes them into a state of quiet passivity seems unnatural, especially when contrasted with their boundless energy on television-free days, an energy that seems to persist from dawn until dusk.
I often question the implications of allowing children to become captivated by screens, whether it be television or digital devices, and the potential consequences on their behavioral development. Children are a powerhouse of energy; to constrain them to a state of sedentary absorption seems to be an unnatural imposition that could potentially interfere with their neurological development.
The influence of these devices is extraordinary, given that they can effortlessly immobilize children who otherwise seem to be in perpetual motion. This degree of control feels disconcerting, and I believe it’s time we reconsider our reliance on these devices and return to our children the freedom to experience the world as it should be: natural, unrestricted, and untouched by human interference.
There is a unique beauty in watching children experience the world, a joy that parents can share. As I pen this article, I am seated outside, immersed in nature, while my children engage with the earth, playing with mud and water-spewing hoses, interacting with our puppy, and simply exploring the boundaries of their treeless, fenced-in playground that, in their eyes, seems boundless.
Let us reclaim the freedom of childhood, unshackling it from digital chains and returning it to its rightful place amongst the whispers of leaves and the vibrant canvas of the great outdoors.
Stay free, my friends.
-Greg
