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Mindful Childhood: Regaining control over your child’s time and attention.
Mindful Childhood: Regaining control over your child’s time and attention.
A few years ago, my partner and I decided to run an experiment. We left the kids (then 10 and 13) with zero phone restrictions. We stayed close by, watching like a "hidden camera" crew. We wanted to see if they were capable of self-regulating. The sight was... well, to put it mildly, chilling.
The "Menu": Breakfast – tea biscuits. Lunch – non-existent. Dinner – you guessed it... more tea biscuits. Their eyes were bloodshot, their faces pale, their gaze completely "dead." The kitchen was a total wreck, trash was everywhere, and as for the bathroom... let’s just say it was a disaster.
It became crystal clear: their brains simply aren’t equipped to resist on their own. It’s not a character flaw; it’s pure biology. That is why we stepped in and introduced the "Digital Cop" and the 60-40-20 RULE.
THE 60 - 40 - 20 RULE
THE 60 - 40 - 20 RULE
📚 60 mins of Education: (Languages, quizzes, research – the brain has to stay engaged).
💬 40 mins of Active Socializing: (Chatting and collaborative gaming with friends).
🗑️ 20 mins of Passive "Junk": (TikTok, Reels, etc. – just so they don’t feel "out of the loop").
THE DIGITAL CURFEW Phones go to bed 120 minutes before the kids do. No blue light in the evening means no "zombie stare" in the morning.
EARN YOUR SCREEN TIME Maximum 120 minutes a day. But there's a catch: only AFTER homework, training, and chores are done. This isn’t a punishment—it’s saving their childhood.
THE PARKING STATION A basket sits at the front door. Phones are "parked" there. If they need to use them, they must do so while standing at the station. Trust me—no one wants to scroll for 20 minutes on their feet!
Childhood is a priceless gift, a one-time journey. It is like a restorative dream—it heals, it mends, and it allows for true growth.
It is the foundation for everything that follows. The longer and more protected a childhood is, the better the foundation for a healthy, high-quality life as an adult.
Do not kill a child’s childhood; it is the ultimate crime. It is a betrayal of trust as deep and dark as a priest exploiting a child’s innocence under the guise of God.
Let a child be a child. Connect with them in nature. Watch their every step and every stumble. Be present, but let them fight their own battles and come of age—in the real world, without virtual crutches or fictitious lives.
Parenting is painful. And no matter how extreme these methods may sound, believe me—this is the only path. You are at war with the world’s most elite psychological "special forces," their algorithms, and now, their AI. Your chances are zero if you play by their rules. Your only shot at winning this war is "fanaticism." Anything else is just window dressing and an excuse for your own powerlessness.
So, do the only right thing. Limit your child’s phone use. Until the very end of their adolescence. Until the very end of their childhood.
The Smart Plug Hack: A Simple Solution for a Mindful Childhood
The Smart Plug Hack: A Simple Solution for a Mindful Childhood
Recently, a mother asked me: "How do I stop this battle over screens? The PlayStation has become the center of the universe, and I don’t know what to do anymore!" Here is how we put an end to that in our house. No fighting, no yelling, and no need to play the "bad cop."
YouTube and similar platforms are a breeding ground for so-called "BrainRot"—those mindless, aggressive short clips that literally fry a child’s focus. We drew the line there. We sold the console long ago and used the money to buy bicycles 🚲.
But, if your console is still there, here is a solution that is battle-tested and actually works.
✅ The Solution: A €5-10 "Magic" Plug
✅ The Solution: A €5-10 "Magic" Plug
Search for a Smart Socket with a "Child Lock" feature on AliExpress. It costs a few euros but is worth a fortune. (I’ll post a link in the comments).
⚠️ NO MANUAL BYPASS: With the "Child Lock" enabled, the child cannot turn the plug on using the physical button. The button stays "dead" until you approve it via the app on your phone. (A pro-tip for parents whose kids try to bypass the system by plugging the console directly into the wall: a drop of superglue on the connection between the console's plug and the smart socket solves that bypass forever!)
⚠️ STRICT RULES (The Timer): Our plug is programmed to turn on at 8:00 PM and shut off exactly at 9:30 PM. No negotiations—"the power has gone to sleep." We connected our TV to it with a kid-friendly Netflix profile. You can do the same with a PlayStation or any other console. And remember: no gaming 2 hours before bed!
🎮 Not all games are created equal: Our Reward System
🎮 Not all games are created equal: Our Reward System
In our home, there is a clear order of operations:
1️⃣ HEALTHY HABITS: Sports and outdoor play.
2️⃣ CHORES: Cleaning the room, helping in the kitchen, sweeping.
3️⃣ SCHOOL: Homework and studying.
Only then does the plug turn on! But, we don’t measure every game by the same yardstick:
❌ UNCREATIVE GAMES (Avoid at all costs): If a game is just a mindless "time-killer," the limit is shorter than a school lesson. However, if a game stimulates brain activity, we allow more time.
What should you install to help their brain grow?
🏗️ For the Builders (Engineering): Minecraft, LEGO Worlds, Dragon Quest Builders 2...
🎨 For the Artists (Imagination): Concrete Genie, Chicory, Dreams...
🧩 For the Little Geniuses (Thinking outside the box): The Plucky Squire, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Astro Bot...
🐾 For the Youngest: Bluey: The Videogame, Tearaway Unfolded...
Don’t just ban technology—tame it. A smart plug is a tool that gives the child clear boundaries and gives you a peaceful evening. Instead of you being the "bad cop," let the app on your phone do the job for you. 😉
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