Reconnect with the Kid in You
Make It Stand Out.
Remember the feeling of being a kid? When you’d rush outside because the world beyond your front door meant freedom? Maybe you spent your day building a tree house, turning the backyard into a baseball field, or running around with friends until the streetlights came on…
Whatever it was, the day was yours to create.
Embracing Our Inner Explorer
Do you also remember when life was an adventure (without screens)?
Getting lost in the woods with friends—using every leaf, stick & rock and to build a new civilization that you would lead to survival…Walking around with mud on your hands and boots on your feet—because getting dirty wasn’t just okay - it’s was a rule of life.
And spending evenings around bonfires under starlit skies—laughing with friends and eating gooey s’mores. Being a kid felt like you had the power to transform the world into whatever you imagined it could be…
That sense of anything is possible was the pure magic of childhood.
Losing Touch in a High-Tech World
Now, as adults, how often do we forget that feeling?
Most of our days are pre-programmed with routines, schedules and screens. It’s incredibly easy to get swept up in the daily grind, forgetting how long we (and our kids) have been online and behind a screen—I do it all the time.
But over time, that constant routine lead to:
❌ Less time outdoors, more time glued to devices
❌Always being “on”, never fully unplugged
❌ Consuming more but creating less—for us and for them
Our families deserve better.
We deserve to explore the world with the same curiosity and imagination we once had before smartphones and social media were in every pocket.
So How Do We Find Our Way Back?
Start by thinking and feeling like a kid again.
We’re living in a unique time—one where we, as parents, can bridge two worlds. We remember the freedom of an offline childhood, even as we raise kids in a digital age.
Use your memories of a pre-smartphone childhood to:
🌲 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 the adventures that shaped you.
🌲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 kids with memories from the past.
🌲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 new family traditions based on old (and new) adventures.
We have the power to blend both experiences, helping our children discover the real-world adventures that once made us so happy—while still benefitting from what technology offers.
Practical Steps to Reconnect Offline
Taking the first step doesn’t have to be difficult. Small, consistent changes can help rebuild a healthier relationship with screens:
🍁 𝗕𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹: Block time on your calendar for daily unstructured activities. Things like walking, playing, exploring…
🍁 𝗕𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁: Pause notifications, and put up away messages. Remember the freedom of having no distractions, no pings, no alerts.
🍁 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲: Use your imagination—build, explore, wander. Let yourself remember the feeling of creating something out of nothing.
When we prioritize offline experiences, online distractions don’t stand a chance.
Our kids are forming habits they’ll keep for life. By modeling healthy tech boundaries, we create a home that’s more present, more connected, and filled with the childlike wonder we once knew...
Is there something you do to disconnect and be a kid, that others can learn from?
Me? I build trampolines in the woods. ✌️
I'm Christopher Sciullo, I write about Family Digital Wellness...I help parents balance their own tech use while guiding kids toward healthier screen habits—so we can all rediscover the wonder of life beyond the screen.
Ready to take the next step? Sign up for my weekly newsletter to receive more tips on balancing technology and real-world adventure for you and your family. Let’s bring back that sense of childhood wonder—together.
