Camping may be the ultimate summer activity: sleeping out under the stars, hiking, swimming, campfires, fresh air, and family time. But if you’re going to any of the Provincial Parks equipped with Wi-Fi service, you can also add Facebook and video games to your family’s weekend to-do list.
So much for getting away from it all.
If your family is packing up the gear and heading to the woods this weekend, leave the gadgets behind. While they may entertain today’s kids for hours on end, they detract from the traditional experience of camping—getting back to nature, and reconnecting with one another.
Not only that, but a break from technology can be healthy for minds and bodies alike. Studies have shown that too much screen time has been linked to decreased sleep ability, which impairs cognitive function the next day. Video games have been linked to issues with attention span and problems with retention of information. And that’s just on the learning side of things—technology has also been linked to the breakdown of traditional family time and communication. It’s also been shown to over-stimulate the brain, making unwinding and relaxing increasingly difficult.
While the kids (and parents too—be honest) might dread the thought of extended time away from their gadgets, sometimes it’s necessary to disconnect in order to reconnect.
So when you register for your camp site this weekend, opt out of the Wi-Fi, and get back to basics, even if just for the weekend.
Oxford Learning provides supplemental education services across North America. It offers programs for young people from preschool through university, and its cognitive approach goes beyond tutoring to ignite a lifelong love of learning. Find out more at http://www.OxfordLearning.com.
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