Hilltop Families Embrace Second Annual 'Screen Free Week'
Hilltop Families Embrace Second Annual 'Screen Free Week'
Students at Hilltop Primary School participated in the second annual “Screen Free Week” from May 12-18. Social worker Lori Springer explained that the intention behind Screen Free Week is to encourage everyone to turn off screens to connect with family, friends, nature and their own creativity.
“Classrooms were very creative with how they spent their time throughout the week,” said Springer. “We saw classes doing lessons outside, math facts with sidewalk chalk, math games in the classroom, bonus time outside enjoying the fresh air, extra physical activity, lots of book reading, and creativity every day!”
Screen-free activities were not limited to the school day. To get parents and siblings involved, Hilltop put together an entire slate of activities and suggestions for the week, including White Hawks sports activities; a craft and board game night; greenhouse planting; a mini bike rodeo; fine arts night, and a hike to the “property” with Brett Sieberer, “Mr. Brett” to his students from Three Rivers Park District, although that activity was canceled due to weather.
The fun continued on Saturday with Kids’ Boot Camp and families were encouraged to wrap up a fun week at a pizza night at the Minnetonka Orchard on Sunday night.
In a tech-heavy world, sometimes it can be very beneficial to step away, unplug, and reconnect in other ways. “It was our goal to have every Hilltop student take a tech break this week, and it was our hope families would participate at home as well!” said Dean of Students John Wardlow. “Hilltop put on many tech-free activities to help families get involved and Hilltop even did several drawings for great tech-free prizes for those students who participated. It was such a fun week!”
Sponsors for the week included Hilltop PTA, Westonka Rotary, and Gary and Lori Wollner.
Use this link to create your own family media plan, as recommended by the CDC.