Unschooling Journal February 9-15, 2020

Here’s a summary of Ethan’s week of unschooling. We struggled a little bit this week with computer time. Ethan loves coding and using the computer but we would like him to balance out using the computer with reading and other non-screen based activities.He is supposed to set a timer for 30 minutes if he is playing a game, but he’s “forgotten” or gone over his time limit on several occasions. This has resulted in no games allowed. Coding and research are ok but just like with coding, we don’t think that spending hours in front of the computer is a good idea. Screentime is such a tricky issue especially in terms of setting limits for kids and even ourselves. I think the timer is a very fair and helpful tool for Ethan. I guess he needs some way to remind him to set it, perhaps the consequences of no screen time will help him get in the habit. It could also be beneficial to have some way to remind him to refocus his eyes every ten minutes or so, by looking up from the computer regularly and out the window or to different distances. I also get up and move, stretch every 30 minutes of computer work I do. Sitting for long periods of time is also harmful for the body and can create a lot of tightness and even long term negative health effects. Going over some of the reasons you are limiting and monitoring his screen time, might help Ethan understand that you are looking out for his health and he can begin to take a larger responsibility in his own self-care.  Eventually it will become a habit to take these eye and body breaks.  

How Screen Time Parches Your Peepers

Eyes need to stay moist to stay healthy. Normally, people blink every 10 seconds or so. When you blink, your eyes release a “tear film” that soothes and coats your eyes. But you don’t blink as often when you’re on a tablet, computer, or watching TV. Less blinking means drier eyes.There’s more to your tears than just water. Oil and mucus are in them, too. You need all three substances to keep your eyes moist and comfortable.Working on computers for a long time may even change the balance of your tears. A 2014 study in Japan found that people who spent hours on their computers had a lower amount of mucus in their tears. Nearly 1 in 10 workers in the study definitely had dry eye, and more than half had probable cases.While the chances of getting dry eye go up with age, a 2016 study found that children who spent more time on their smartphones — and less time outside — had more symptoms of dry eye.

What You Can Do

If you need to keep looking at a screen, you should:Follow the 20/20/20 rule. Take a 20-second break from your digital device every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away. Set an alarm on your smartphone as a reminder.Use a humidifier. It adds moisture to dry indoor air so your eyes won’t dry out as quickly.Don’t stare. Make an effort to blink frequently, especially when you’re using a screen for a long stretch.Keep screens at arm’s length. Most people hold their smartphones and small devices 8 to 12 inches from their face. That close distance slows down blink rates. It’s better to hold your device at least 20 inches from your eyes.Gretchen Reynolds, a reporter on exercise research for The New York Times, wrote a book condensing health studies down to their most essential parts. One of the key takeaways from her research was this emphasis on standing up and the golden 20-minute mark.New science shows very persuasively that standing up about every 20 minutes, even for only a minute or two, reduces your risks of developing diabetes and heart disease.By standing up, you cause the big muscles in your legs and back to contract, which leads to an increase in certain enzymes that break up fat in the blood stream. You don’t have to jog in place or do jumping jacks. Just stand. A very pleasant additional benefit is that standing up every 20 to 30 minutes also seems to prompt the body to burn calories, so you don’t gain as much weight from sitting at the office most of the day.  On another note, Ethan passed swimming level 9 and will be enrolled in the final level for the spring season. After that, he can take specialty programs, such as being a lifeguard. Taking 3 swimming lesson per week has helped Ethn improve quickly, as well as giving him an additional physical activity.yayyyy I got to level 10 in swimming!!!!!!! Way to go Ethan!! You must be a super swimmer now. Do you have any interest in taking lifeguarding someday? It is a great youth job.  We registered Ethan for a one day program called Urban Explorers where he learned to use a Compass card to take the bus. Ethan and the other kids, along with two teachers, travelled from the West Vancouver Community Centre to Granville Island, Canada Place and back to the community centre.Riding the bus is a huge independence and self-esteem builder. So glad he enjoyed this. They did a scavenger hunt and also practiced bartering. For the bartering, Ethan received a plastic fork and had to ask someone at Starbucks if they would like to trade something for the fork. He received a keychain with dice on it. He then took the keychain and went to the toy store in the Granville Island Kids Only Market. There, he was able to barter and receive a 1000 piece puzzle.I think the bartering aspect to this scavenger hunt and challenge is very interesting. We don’t often encourage bartering in this culture, but I use it regularly. I often trade giving massages for haircuts or clothing etc. Ethan will have some computer skills to trade for sure if he chooses to. Ethan loved the program and wants to do it again the next time it is offered.what to bring for this program called urban explorers. urban explorers is where you go out into the world and learn how to ride the bus, the skytrain, and most importantly, how to cross the street! also, you’re supposed to trade a plastic fork up for something. there were two groupes- first group traded the fork for a broken hair clip, then: hair clip-gift bag-lego figure-yummy candy!second group: fork-keychain die-1000 piece puzzle! I like that the two groups competed in bartering, very fun and creative challenge.  learning about tension. learning about treating systems. writing about the black hole bomb!You wrote a lot about this black hole bomb. I am curious and wonder if you will be making a film or letting me know more about this. I am going to hold off on doing my own research and wait for this week, maybe I will find out more from you Ethan.  foregin language: spanish! How is the Spanish coming along? Have you had any chances to practice it outside of Duolingo?    This drawing is gorgeous! I really appreciate all the detail on the planets.  going to artmania, a new program where you make stuff out of popsicle sticks!This is going to be fantastic! Can’t wait to see some of your clever creations.  The possibilities are endless. What sort of design are you thinking of? You may want to search popsicle stick creations for some ideas….or maybe the class has some sort of parameters to follow.   OK this one is pretty advanced, but I thought it was so well done.  things to do when talking to be respectful.I love your list Ethan. It is very clear and has a lot of great points covered. What prompted making this?  Its really neat to see you working in Universe Sandbox 2!! What an incredible program. Thanks for posting. Natasha