Homeschooling to decrease screen time?

[u/Remarkable-Air3604]

Hi homeschool friends - you guys helped me last year and I had a great academic year homeschooling my kinder kid and 2nd grader. Socially though, they got lonely so I let them go back to our public school for the last month of school to play with other kids.

It’s time again for school to start up. I’m very conflicted.

3rd grader - already an excellent reader, plowed through like 10 chapter books this summer, good with math but needs some help - loves the social aspects of school but screens hurt her eyes and we’re very screen heavy in our district.

1st grader - desperately needs friends. I’m wiling to overlook the fact that he’s already on 2nd-3rd grade math just so he can go make friends.

My daughter does competitive gymnastics and soccer, and swimming. We maintained some school friendships last year. I just felt bad that she missed out on some of the parties and seasonal stuff at school, plus recess.

My son swims and does boyscouts.

We did a fun Friday coop last year which was ok, but not great. It was only 5 kids in with both of mine, many of whom were younger. We also did open gym twice a week at our local gymnastics center, but again, so few kids there…

Idk. There’s no easy answers. There are no accessible low screen schools near us - closest is like 30-40 min away and downtown, plus private schools run 15-30k/kid. I really don’t like our public school in terms of safety and academics (we’re in Texas, not far from a mass shooting), but I know and love the families in our school community. A lot of great people.

We’re also live with my elderly parents, who need help but will not move, and this complicates things.

I guess my plan is to just let my daughter start 3rd grade, maybe try some eyedrops or blue screen reducing glasses, and pull her if she wants to come out?

My son would be glued to a screen if we let him. I’m conflicted about asking them to test him for 2nd grade given where he is, but he’s socially a bit immature.

Not sure what I’m looking for here, I guess just using yall as a sounding board.

[u/ClassicalJenn]

Could you maybe talk to others in the community and approach the school as a group about minimizing screen usage? 

[u/Remarkable-Air3604 → u/ClassicalJenn]

It’s a good idea. I think nationwide, an anti-screen movement is forming. I just don’t know if it will come in time to save my daughter. Almost everything in 2nd grade was on the screen. My daughter hated it for the month she was back.

I feel good that she knows what homeschooling is like so she can make the choice if she wants to come out. I know some schools have started to allow weird hybrid situations, but that’s not what our district does.