Raising happy kids is a goal for most parents. Many of us have learned the hard way that indulgent children who are self-absorbed in “screen-time” are often the least delightful to be around and seem distant. In this episode, Felice Gerwitz shares how she centered her homeschool lifestyle away from screens and toward family engagement, ultimately fostering a close-knit family.
Happy Kids Don’t Need Wi-Fi: Reclaiming Family JoySponsored by CTCMath.com
In this upside-down world, it’s often hard to believe that raising truly happy kids is still possible. In today’s episode, I tackle the real issues plaguing our families and share the essential “arsenal” every Christian home needs. Your home should be a safe haven—a place of peace, protection, and joy for those you love most.
Homeschool families have such a wonderful advantage because our children are with us every day. I’m so thankful for the brave pioneers who fought for our freedom to homeschool in all 50 states. Raising happy kids is something every parent longs for, no matter how young or old your children are. It’s only possible when we keep a clear vision and focus in this noisy, cluttered world.
We’re constantly bombarded by news, social media, and endless shiny distractions. Many of us also carry fear about what the future holds. That’s why I made some deliberate decisions for my own family—choices that truly changed our lives for the better.
Learning from the Past and Looking to the FutureWhen my husband and I were young parents, we moved to what people in our area called “the country.” We bought 2.5 acres of swamp land and built a simple three-bedroom, two-bath home. My husband cleared non-native trees, dug a pond for fill dirt, and raised the house so floodwaters wouldn’t reach us.
That land gave us the gift of getting away from it all. For seven blessed years we had no cable TV. We only received local news and a few stations, so the television stayed off most of the time—except for rented VHS movies. Instead, our children Neal and Christina explored the outdoors, dug in the dirt, fished in our pond, and learned about God’s creation. We read stacks of books, played games, and homeschooled in a very simple way because homeschool textbooks were hard to find back then.
We went on field trips almost every week. I turned every outing into a learning adventure—even car rides became mini faith lessons, grammar reviews, or counting games. (“How many blue cars or trucks can you count?”) A few years later we had three more children, and life was still much the same—until cable and Wi-Fi made their way into our neighborhood. I was determined things wouldn’t change… but of course they did.
It’s hard when Dad comes home bone-tired and just wants to veg in front of the television with the kids. My husband would sneak in a treat before supper (without the kids seeing!) and then head outside to play with them. That gave me a few precious minutes of alone time and helped me plan ways to encourage family reading instead of constant screen time.
One compromise that worked well for us was Friday night pizza and movie night. It helped balance my desire for almost no television with my husband’s natural inclination to turn it on whenever he saw it!
Homeschooling was my daily opportunity to steer our children toward hands-on learning while weaving in precious family time.
Our Household Routines That Made a DifferenceHere are some of the simple rhythms we kept in our home:
Prayer comes first—Bible study or a short religious lesson every morning. No television or video streaming without explicit permission and a clear time limit. Daily time outdoors to explore and play. Each child pursued a hobby or sport they loved. Regular family reading time. Shared family meals around the table. Consistent evening routines. Family prayer time together every night.If your husband (or wife, if you’re a homeschool dad listening) isn’t fully on board yet, don’t worry. You have the entire homeschool day to gently incorporate these values. That’s exactly what I did to strike a peaceful balance between what Mom and Dad thought was important.
The Growing Screen-Free MovementI’m so encouraged to see more young parents today keeping their children off digital devices and choosing hands-on, nature-based activities and even “antique” toys instead. While the average screen time for U.S. kids is still very high, a wonderful pushback is growing among parents who feel disconnected from their children because of technology.
The truth is simple: when children are busy interacting with siblings and friends, they are happier and more engaged in ways that really matter. In your homeschool, this is easy to put into practice. Set aside screen-free blocks and fill them with hands-on science activities (like those in my Creation Science Study Guides), drawing, painting, crochet, needlepoint, or building projects.
Give your kids some chairs, sheets, and blankets and watch them build a fort in minutes—it’s wonderful for problem-solving skills! Once the fort is up, add pillows and books. Be sure to crawl inside and join them—they will love it!
Making Memories OutdoorsI’m not a natural camper at heart, but for most of our homeschool years we camped four or five times a year. We traveled all up and down the coast of Florida—from John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in the Keys to Florida Caverns State Park in the north.
We turned those trips into rich learning experiences without the kids even realizing it was “school.” They learned directions, how to read a compass, navigation by the stars and sun, vegetation, and animal habitats. We joined guided nature walks when we could, and in the evenings we told stories around the campfire. Even rainy days brought joy! We’d bundle everyone into the car, go out for breakfast, and sometimes make new homeschool friends—like the family that invited all fifteen of us into their home on a soggy day. What a blessing!
Practical Ideas You Can Use Right AwayYou can easily add simple STEM activities or DIY projects to your day. Ask your children what topics they’re excited to learn more about. Consider low-tech gifts for birthdays—wooden train tracks, building sets, art supplies, or sports equipment.
Just last week while my grandchildren were visiting, we pulled out our huge bin of wooden train tracks. My grandson built an elaborate layout all by himself that stretched under coffee tables and partway down the hallway. He was so proud and happy! The older children designed custom t-shirts with the Cricut (computer time was limited to design and printing only). Everyone stayed happily engaged, talking, laughing, and creating together—with far fewer meltdowns than video games usually cause.
That was one of the main reasons I limited screens with my own children—the constant bickering that seemed to come with them!
My Prayer for YouI pray you’ll sit down and create your own list of screen-free activities and then truly enjoy time with your children. Sneak in some learning whenever you can, and just watch them. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the joy that returns to your home.
Happy kids really don’t need Wi-Fi—they need our presence, prayer, play, and a family that points them to Christ.
For More Listening on the Vintage Homeschool Moms PodcastIf you enjoyed today’s episode, you may also like these:
- Best Homeschool Scheduling Advice
- Top 10 Parenting Secrets with Felice Gerwitz
- Overcoming Homeschool Overwhelm
- Family Date Nights
- Creation Science Podcast – Miracles of the Body
These episodes pair beautifully with the message of building a peaceful, faith-filled, joy-filled home.
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