Weston Green School Embraces a Screen-Free Day for Digital Detox
Today at Weston Green School, we hosted a Digital Detox Day, a refreshing initiative aimed at encouraging children to step away from screens and embrace creative, hands-on learning. From outdoor maths lessons to board games and craft activities, the day was packed with engaging, offscreen experiences. This was all captured on an instant camera instead of the usual school smart phone, which the children found fascinating!
Here’s what the children had to say about their screen-free day!
Do You Miss Screens?
Many children embraced the challenge of working without digital tools, discovering new ways to approach research and layout tasks. Year 3, for example, used their creativity to design Roman spa advertisements without the help of Chromebooks.
“It was tricky at first without screens, but I still managed to do it and it made me more creative!” shared one child. Another added, “I enjoyed expressing my imagination to its full limits.
What Did You Particularly Enjoy?
From outdoor maths experiments to crafting and board games, children relished the opportunity to engage in screen free activities. Year 1 enjoyed measuring water outdoors using different sized plastic cups before using it to water the outdoor plants. In the afternoon, they created models such as ships and decorated skirts with gems which they could then continue at home.
Year 2 had a variety of fun activities planned for their screen-free afternoon, including drawing, craft books, and playing outdoors.
“Digital detox has been good to do as it gets bad habits out of you.”
A variety of board games were played in year 3 as a collaborative off screen activity which they very much enjoyed building friendships with their classmates.
In Geography they used an A3 piece of paper to draw a Viking settlement with a key for certain landmarks which they ticked off as they found them.
Year 5 embraced creativity through personification exercises, miming different themes. They also presented important historical inventions including flushing toilets, locomotives, spinning jenny … and even ice cream! They were delighted by a visit from ‘Prince Albert’ (aka Mr Brown)!
In PRE, children explored kindness and writing compliments as well as using Sikhism vocabulary to create their own customised word searches.
What Did You Miss?
While some children admitted it was tempting to ‘Google’ information like what a Roman coin is called, others found the experience eye-opening. A Year 4 child remarked:
“It’s been good as it gives your eyes a break, and sometimes they go blurry from too much screen time.”
The school adapted to the digital detox by taking registers manually and reporting them back to Mrs Ranger to update on the system.
Would You Like to Do This Again Next Year?
The resounding answer? YES! Many children recognised the benefits of a day without screens, noting improved creativity, reduced eye strain and better social interaction.
“A day off devices makes us happier inside and out and helps our eyes recover from all the watching.”
With such positive feedback, Weston Green School looks forward to making Digital Detox Day an annual tradition!
