“HGTV Star’s Genius Hack for Tech-Free Kids Will Make You Ditch Your Tablets!”

By Familyguide Contributor

HGTV’s Erin Napier expresses gratitude for her eldest daughter’s school’s understanding of their family’s decision to keep their children free from social media and mobile devices.

“We’re fortunate that our school is so accommodating and allows us to pick her up early on digital education days,” Erin shared in a recent Instagram Story. “We use that time for activities at daddy’s woodshop, playing on the farm, or doing art projects at home.”

Napier showcased one of these screen-free activities her children enjoy – painting!

“Try leaving out a sturdy mug of water, some typing paper, brushes, and inexpensive watercolors on a table in your home. You’ll be amazed at how often your kids will paint and how tidy they keep it,” she advised. “We’ve been doing this since Helen could first hold a paintbrush.”

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A post shared by Erin Napier (@erinapier)

The HOME TOWN star limits screen time for her daughters Helen, 6, and Mae, 3, to FaceTime calls with grandparents. Napier believes that “tablet use at school conflicts with our family values in a way that doesn’t feel beneficial.”

Napier encourages parents interested in a “low-tech education” to discuss their concerns with school administrators, citing growing evidence that technology use may not benefit most students until they’re older, and even then, only in limited amounts.

Responding to follower questions about screen-free entertainment during long car rides, Napier shared, “We keep books and magnetic drawing boards in the backseat pockets and let them choose the music. We stick to Disney classics and 60s-90s singer-songwriters – no ‘Baby Shark’ allowed!”

Addressing concerns about parents’ ability to accommodate early pick-ups for tech-focused school days, Napier acknowledged her fortunate situation: “I work full-time, but we have a great sitter and grandparents who can help with early pick-ups.”

The Napiers’ commitment to screen-free childhoods led them to establish Osprey Kids, an organization advocating for social media abstinence until high school graduation.

“When adolescents aren’t on social media, they engage more deeply with family, interests, and self-assurance,” states the Osprey Kids website. “By joining forces with other parents to embargo social media from elementary school onward, we set our children up for success before peer pressure takes hold.”

Erin shared the incident that sparked their decision to keep their daughters off social media: “When Helen was very young, I posted a picture of her, and someone criticized her appearance. It infuriated me. The criticism often comes from other women, which feels like a betrayal when a fellow mother dares to criticize your child or parenting.”

The Napiers plan to introduce technology gradually, starting with landlines for communication, then flip phones when the girls are old enough to drive. “I look forward to them experiencing that quintessential teenage moment of independence – driving while listening to their favorite music for the first time,” Erin explained.