Hilltop Families Embrace Annual 'Screen Free Week'
Hilltop Families Embrace Annual 'Screen Free Week'
A bike rodeo was one of the activities offered during Screen Free Week.
Students at Hilltop Primary School embraced the annual “Screen Free Week” May 11-17. Social worker Lori Springer shared that this week is intended to encourage a pause of digital entertainment to help children and families reset habits, boost social skills, and kindle imagination and creative play.
“Stepping away from screens for even a few days provides significant and lasting benefits for children such as better focus, self-regulation, improved sleep, and empathy toward others through face-to-face interactions,” said Springer.
Screen-free activities were planned throughout the week both in school and in the community to encourage participation, connection and fun. Hilltop families received free admission to all high school events throughout the week, along with opportunities to participate in a variety of family-friendly activities, including a crafting and board game night at Hilltop; an evening family hike led by Ellen Munshower, an interpretive naturalist with Three Rivers Park District; a bike rodeo at Hilltop; a community gathering at Back Channel Brewing; a kids "boot camp" at Hilltop; and an ice cream social at Lost Lake Creamery.
"The multitude of activities planned during screen free week reminds the kids (and the adults!) of how many options we have to occupy and enjoy time together,” shared one Hilltop parent. “Every year, my kids look forward to the extra afternoon and weekend activities Hilltop plans for screen free week. It is a great reminder that screens are just one part of life, and alternative activities can often be more fulfilling, fun and connecting."
As part of the experience, students were given a Screen Free Week activity log to record the various things that they did throughout the week that did not include screen time. Students who completed the activity log were entered in a drawing for an amazing array of over 200 prizes, none of which involved screen time. Prizes were provided through the generosity of many local organizations, including Hilltop PTA, Mound-Westonka Rotary Club, WeCAN, BeLikeTommy Project, Lost Lake Creamery, and Culver's.