"Snoodles on the Loose" by Natasha Hanina

Parents across the nation, and even all over the world, struggle every day to get their children off screens and interact with other people. Some parents have an easier time of it than others, and it's easier to do it on some days than others.

Lucas and Snoodles

If you are a parent who struggles with redirecting your child from electronics day in and day out, writer Natasha Hanina has something you might want to try. Hanina is the co-creator of the "Tashi Non-Stop" web series, a transmedia program that features educational videos and fun storybooks for children. One of Hanina's latest offerings is an e-book called "Snoodles on the Loose". The story follows a boy named Lucas and his imaginary friend named Snoodles, a creature who can change his shape and form depending on his whims and Lucas' imagination.

One day, Lucas receives a gift, a new phone. He is excited to get this present and begins to play with it and explore the apps he can download onto it. He has so much fun with his new "toy" that he forgets about his friend, Snoodles. Snoodles decides to leave and look for new friends who would rather play with him than with their screens. Meanwhile, Lucas realizes his new phone isn't all it's cracked up to be and looks for his friend Snoodles, who has since left because he has been ignored.

Hanina's book is a good one because it deals with an issue adults face every day with their children. It's not always easy to get your children away from their screens and curtail the screen time. Her book takes Lucas from playing with his friend to finding a shiny new toy to leaving the toy to find his friend. His adventure takes him to a treehouse where he meets people, including "Tashi", who have met Snoodles and love playing with him.

Natasha Hanina (photo:tashinonstop.com)

Children and Screens

Screens are a battle I fight all the time when it comes to my kids, especially The Boy. It's hard for me, who works with a laptop, Kindle and iPhone on a consistent basis. Like you, I am able to get away from the technology and see what else life has to offer.

When it comes to communicating with my children, I find myself playing "20 Questions" with them. The details surrounding their day at school gets teased out through a series of specific questions like, "What happened when you got to your class?" This answer will lead to a follow-up question where I get to ask about where The Boy went into the room and what he got right before he sat down and began his work.

Like you, I'm interested in knowing what my kids did during the day. Asking them questions allows me to get a glimpse of their morning and afternoon away from the house. It's precious few minutes I get to talk with my children before they go upstairs to do their homework and, inevitably, find a screen to immerse themselves in for some leisure time.

Wife and I do all we can to make sure "Screen Time" isn't overdone. Phones are not allowed when we sit down to dinner. Dinnertime is the chance for us to check in with the kids and find out more about their day at school, especially for Wife, who is not with us when I ask how school was when they come home.

Dealing with Excessive Screen Time

I'm not saying screens are bad. I myself like using screens to watch a movie or a cartoon with The Boy. My family has an occasional "Movie Night". This, of course, requires screens. Sometimes, the kids can get carried away with playing on the screens and parents need to find a way to deal with this.

That's where Hanina and her book comes in. Not only is there a great story here for kids to read, or even for you to read with them, but she also includes questions for discussion with your children after the story and a QR code to scan for activities for children to do. These activities could even be printed out, so your child isn't in front of a screen longer than they have to be.

As a parent, we are always making sure our children are well-cared for. This can mean being fed, clothed, and kept warm. We also need to make sure that they are healthy and everything is enjoyed in moderation. This can also include screens that can hurt the eyes and also the brain. No one said parenting was easy, but sometimes an unexpected friend, even an imaginary one, comes along to help our children stay active and remember that too much of a good thing can do them (and their friends) more harm than good.