About half of children aged six to 17-years-old spend more than two hours per day in front of a screen, a Statistics Canada survey found.
To encourage time away from technology, the Literacy Society of the North Okanagan has launched the Screen-Free Family Challenge. Families have the chance to win a family time prize packaged, valued at more than $250 when they make a pledge to spend more screen-free time together. To enter, families are encouraged to fill out a pledge form at the Okanagan Regional Library in Vernon by Dec. 14.
“The holidays are a great time to focus on connecting with children in more traditional ways – playing games, singing, reading books together or building a snowman. All of these activities are not only fun, but they also provide significant learning opportunities important to healthy child development,” said Wendy Aasen with the Literacy Society of the North Okanagan.
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Collection boxes can also be found at the Vernon health Unit as well as on location at other community early years programs.
The Screen-Free Family Challenge is a project of the North Okanagan Early Years Council and the Literacy Society of the North Okanagan who encourage balanced screen-time management.
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