Sign In  |  Register  |  About Los Altos  |  Contact Us

Los Altos, CA
September 01, 2020 1:26pm
7-Day Forecast | Traffic
  • Search Hotels in Los Altos

  • CHECK-IN:
  • CHECK-OUT:
  • ROOMS:

Kids benefit from 'ditching their devices' at home, urges parenting expert

On "Fox & Friends Weekend," parenting expert Amanda Mushro provided ideas for families to spend more screen-free time together, including working on arts and crafts and puzzles and playing charades.

Lifestyle and parenting expert Amanda Mushro provided some tips and ideas for families looking to spend more "screen-free time" together. 

Appearing on "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Saturday, Jan. 7, the Maryland-based mom of three said that reducing screen time at home is a "good resolution for people with kids — and even if you don't have kids." 

Meal times should be screen-free, she said. 

KIDS LEFT ALONE WITH BABY MONITOR: THERE'S ‘NO POINT’ IN SITTERS, ONE MOM SAYS, BUT EXPERTS SOUND THE ALARM

"At the dinner table, ditch the devices," she said. 

To facilitate conversations among the family in her own home, Mushro plays a game called "the peak and the pit," she said.

"Everybody goes around and they talk about the ‘peak,’ which was the best part of their day, and then they talk about the ‘pit,’ which was the worst part of their day," she said.

In addition to offering prompts to get everyone talking to each other, the game helps parents get "little nuggets of information that you wouldn't know otherwise," Mushro said. 

AVOCADOS, HOME COOKING AND ‘SNACKLE' BOXES: HERE ARE THE FODO TRENDS TO WATCH IN A NEW YEAR

Arts and crafts are another screen-free way for families to spend time together, said Mushro. 

"You can also do quick arts and crafts with your kids," she said. "You can have fun with just art kits."

"You don't have to be super crazy and fancy," she said. "You can get the kits that are already put together." 

Co-hosts Will Cain and Pete Hegseth were quite interested in Mushro's third suggestion for families at home: playing games together. 

KIDS NEED TO KNOW: IS MY MOM A 'SCRUNCHY' PARENT? HERE'S THE TRUTH BEHIND A VIRAL TIKTOK TREND

"If you're not an art person, you can do a family game night," she said, suggesting "puzzles, board games or charades." 

Mushro then led a game of charades, pitting Hegseth and Emily Compagno against Cain and Rick Reichmuth. 

Each team had 30 seconds to get through a maximum of seven cards. 

Amid a lot of laughter, the teams tried their best to act out the actions indicated on their cards. 

Cain and Reichmuth managed to get one point, while Hegseth and Compagno got through two — winning the game.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

"Well deserved, well-earned," said Compagno, raising the trophy.

"Definitely," concurred Mushro. "You did it." 

"You guys are at the pit," said Hegseth. 

"We're at the peak." 

Data & News supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Stock quotes supplied by Barchart
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
 
 
Copyright © 2010-2020 LosAltos.com & California Media Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.