A child sitting in front of the television may seem still and calm. However, we all know, from watching TV ourselves, that this kind of physical inactivity isn’t the same as what Elder David A. Bednar said is “a higher and holier dimension of stillness.”
In her Seek course, Parenting in a Digital World with Confidence and Peace, Emily Jones shares that helping children learn to love true stillness is an important component in their wise use of technology that will benefit them their whole lives.
So how do we foster a love for stillness in ourselves and our children when the world can be so loud and technology so demanding? Emily has four ideas to help create more moments with stillness.
1. Model how to seek stillness. Emily shares, “We can point out things in nature; watch sunsets with them.” Stillness can also be as simple as letting children see you without your phone nearby.
2. Let your child be bored. Emily likes to refer to boredom as “the storm before the calm.” When she does this, Emily notices “magic happens” and a child’s creativity and imagination come forth. She shares, “And it gives that child the opportunity to be comfortable with a little more quiet. ... In time, they can be more at ease with this stillness."
3. Create a family “no screens day” tradition. Emily and her family do this on Sundays, and they put all their devices in a central area and only use them if necessary. “This weekly detox reminds us that we can function without a phone,” she explains. “And it reminds us of the connection we have with one another.
4. Invite your child to craft a formal experience with stillness. This looks like setting the devices aside and seeking a simple moment of solitude and quiet. Emily explains, “This can nurture within them a desire to seek [stillness] more often.”
Find more ideas for helping children navigate technology in Emily’s Seek course, Parenting in a Digital World with Confidence and Peace.
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