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How to Avoid Constant Screen Time on Summer Vacation

Mom and Dad are taking a break, too.

Summer vacation is just around the corner. For children it typically means freedom from the day-to-day routine of school. However, for parents the words “summer vacation” tend to conjure up a dilemma: how to make sure devices and screens don’t fill every waking minute of every day for two months.

Too much screen time has indeed been linked to sensory overload, lack of sleep, diminished ability to recognize emotions and even genuine addiction. On top of that, by keeping themselves glued to their screens, your kids may be missing out on many of the summer pastimes that have marked childhood since time began, from going to the beach, exploring the neighborhood with their friends to simply dealing with being bored.

In limiting screen time for kids, you are working to create a healthy “play diet” that balances many types of play. You can keep screen time as part of this play diet, while also ensuring your kids get in some social, physical, unstructured, and creative play.

But how to achieve this balance?

Here are some tips for limiting screen time while helping your kids enjoy a fun and memorable summer. And remember: success comes when parents enforce the family rules while demonstrating by by example.

Tips for Limiting Screen Time in Summer

Kids these days use their devices for everything: research for school projects, texting with friends, letting us know they’re safe when they’re out, as well as for gaming and consuming media. Yet kids need to spend time outdoors or reading books, or simply just thinking.

However, it can be difficult to set and then reliably and consistently enforcing rules. As with most everything else in life, developing a game plan can help pave the way for success.

summer screen time with kids

Tip 1: Be Realistic

“Forbidden fruit is the tastiest,” says Lucy Jo Palladino, a clinical psychologist and author of Parenting in the Age of Attention Snatchers. Completely banning screen time may simply double the desire of your kids to get online.

Instead, be realistic: devices are a part of everyday life for kids. Accept that fact, and create a flexible plan that manages screen time.

Tip 2: Start With an Endpoint

Negotiate the length and amount of screentime with your kids ahead of time. Either set firm time limits, or limit screentime to the duration of a specific program. That way, one show won’t flow into the other, and you can avoid commercials.

Because most games don’t have built-in endings (and are, in fact, designed to make kids play as long as possible), set a timer or some other cue that says “time to stop.”

Tip 3: Help Kids Balance Their Day

Kids need guidance from you on a daily plan that includes a little bit of time for everything. Kids whose parents make an effort to limit media use spend less time with media than their peers do, according to a study. As parents, it can be easy to nag kids to try to get them to do things, but this will not necessarily work with limiting screen time.

Instead, it’s best to work on a concrete plan that structures activities throughout the day. This gives kids a sense of predictability, and also lets them know what your expectations are. They can also more easily refrain from turning to devices when bored by focusing on some other activity.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ worksheets to create a family media plan that can help you and your kids balance their day.

Tip 4: Walk the Talk 

If you want to make sure your kids reduce screen time this summer, it’s important to model behavior. It’s tempting for adults to keep reaching for your phone to check email, texts, Facebook, or the news. But your kids will be the first to call you out for not “walking the talk.” Plus, they’ll pick up habits from you.

Model the media behavior, and enjoy your summer, too!

Why Not Take a Family Vacation in Turks and Caicos?

If you want to make sure your kids have plenty of things to do besides stare at a screen, why not plan a family vacation in Turks and Caicos? Check out our blog post 5 Fun Activities In Turks and Caicos to get some ideas about what to do while you’re here.

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#SandsSelfie Turks & Caicos Photo Contest Winner Announced!

Thanks to all our guests who participated in our March #SandsSelfie photos – the photos you submitted on our Facebook & Instagram pages were simply outstanding and we loved seeing all your smiling faces! The results of our March #SandsSelfie Turks & Caicos photo contest are finally in –  and we’re excited to announce the winning photo submission that will be awarded a gift certificate for a 3-Night Stay in a luxurious one-bedroom oceanview suite at The Sands:

Here’s the Winning #SandsSelfie photo that was posted onto our Facebook wall by Erin Katsman-Lesynski:

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This photo captures one of the many reasons why families continue to come stay with us at our top-rated Providenciales resort and why we were named a “2015 Family Favorite Hotel” by Family Vacation Critic. Not only are we situated on Provo’s world-famous Grace Bay Beach (recently named #1 beach in the world by TripAdvisor), but we offer a plethora of family friendly free amenities for guests to have even more fun under the sun during their Turks & Caicos trip including watersports equipment, snorkeling gear, bicycles, 3 swimming pools and more – in addition to offering affordable rates for spacious studio and suite accommodations that are complete with all the comforts of home.

Congratulations and thank you for sharing this terrific family photo with us, Erin!

We encourage all our guests to continue to share their #SandsSelfie photos with us through our resort’s Facebook PageInstagram and Pinterest pages. We now have convenient Sands at Grace Bay “Selfie frames” that you can use for even more photo taking fun – and the frames are also a great way to capture your incredible memories during your stay with us.

Still haven’t planned your summer vacation? We’re offering a 4th Night Free special offer for spring and summer travel beginning this May and it’s valid on ALL room categories – so hurry to book your summer stay for LESS! Contact us today or make your reservations online.

 

 

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Spring Into Summer Rates & Our 4th Night Free Deal!

Image Courtesy Visit TCI
Image Courtesy Visit TCI

Located on Providenciales’ Grace Bay Beach – recently named the World’s #1 Beach by TripAdvisor’s 2016 Travelers’ Choice Awards – The Sands at Grace Bay is tempting spring and summer travelers with its 4th Night Free offer and reduced low-season rates starting from only $195 per night. Named one of the, “Best Hotels in Turks & Caicos” for 2016 by the U.S. News & World Report, a “2015 Family Favorite Hotel” from Family Vacation Critic and a recipient of WeddingWire.com’s “2015 Couples Choice Award”, our resort is leading choice amongst travelers of all ages seeking an affordable yet luxurious stay in one of the Caribbean’s most sought after beach vacation destinations.

In addition to offering some of the most affordable rates along Provo’s world-famous Grace Bay Beach, guests also benefit from the following free resort amenities during their stay: complimentary use of watersports equipment – including kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, snorkel gear and Hobie Cats; bicycles for island exploration; a Tuesday Manager’s cocktail party; three free-form swimming pools; a tennis/basketball court, and more.

Our reduced low-season rates that start from only $195 per night are available for travel beginning April 9th through December 23rd, 2016. The resort-wide 4th Night FREE Deal is valid for new bookings of three nights or more, for travel between May 1st through December 23rd. The free night is not transferable or redeemable for cash, and is not applicable for groups. More resort information may be found online at www.thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com – or by calling toll-free from the U.S. (877) 777-2637 or from Canada (800) 567-5327. Travel agents receive a ten percent commission for all bookings made at The Sands at Grace Bay.

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Spring and Summer Savings On Grace Bay Beach, the #1 Beach in the Caribbean

The Sands resort is offering a number of spring and summer savings on Grace Bay Beach.

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The Sands at Grace Bay is tempting spring and summer travelers with its 4th Night Free offer combined with the resort’s reduced low-season rates for stays between May 1st through December 19th, 2015. Guests will also enjoy an array of free offerings and optional excursions fit for all ages and interests, as well as our idyllic location on Providenciales’ world-famous Grace Bay Beach that was recently named the #1 Beach In The Caribbean by TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travelers’ Choice Awards.

In addition to offering affordable spring and summer rates in the Caribbean’s most sought after beach vacation destination, travelers will benefit from the following added-value amenities and freebies during their stay: complimentary use of watersports equipment – including kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, snorkel gear and Hobie Cats; bicycles for island exploration; a Tuesday Manager’s cocktail party; three free-form swimming pools; a tennis/basketball court, and more. Plus, the resort’s luxurious studio and suite accommodations feature all the comforts of home – complete with modern kitchens and appliances, dining and living room areas, screened-in balconies, washer & dryers (in most units), free Wi-Fi and more.

The resort also offers an endless variety of optional excursions that allow guests to explore the world-renowned coral reefs, pristine island beaches, and unforgettable experiences unique to the Turks & Caicos Islands. Caicos Dream Tours offers a popular half-day Snorkel & Conch cruise and a full-day Dream Day Getaway charter that includes snorkeling along stunning barrier reef formations, stops to breathtaking beaches of uninhabited islands, diving for conch shells and a beach BBQ. Provo Ponies offers guided horseback rides to some of the most secluded beaches of Providenciales where the shallow waters allow guests to take their horses into the ocean. Local tour providers also offer glow worm tours, scuba diving excursions, fishing charters, eco-kayak tours, kiteboarding lessons, sailing and much more. These optional excursions can be conveniently booked by resort guests through the resort’s Tour Operator Desk.

The 4th Night FREE promotion is valid for new bookings made on all room categories at The Sands at Grace Bay, for consecutive stays of four nights or more started and completed between May 1st through December 19th, 2015. The free night is not transferable or redeemable for cash, and is not applicable for groups.

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Hurry to Score End-of-Summer Savings at The Sands!

Book by September 15th to Score Savings For Travel Now Through October 31st!

The Sands at Grace Bay is offering a special end-of-summer resort credit offer for new bookings of three consecutive nights or more, made for travel now through October 31st, 2012. Book by September 15th to receive your fourth night free PLUS a $50 resort credit for booking a Studio Oceanview accommodation or a $100 resort credit for booking a One, Two, or Three Bedroom suite.

OFFER DETAILS: Guests who book this offer can use the resort credit at Hemingway’s Restaurant & Bar, Spa Tropique or at the resort convenience store during their stay. The  resort’s Studio Courtyard and Studio Gardenview accommodations are excluded from this resort credit promotion. The resort credit and the 4th night free offers are not transferable or redeemable for cash. This offer is not applicable for groups.

TO BOOK: Guests can book this offer online at www.thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com, using the promo code “RSTCREDIT” – or they can toll-free from the U.S. (877) 777-2637; from Canada (800) 567-5327; or contact a travel agent for reservations.