Digital Detox - Pupil voice and review
Results at the end of the experiment (parent feedback and pupil survey:
In January, 27 of our Year 6 children signed up to Mrs Heasman's 'Digital Detox' in the hope of reducing their screen time during this period. The children met for meetings throughout,
including completing a survey at the start and catching up on their feelings during different stages of the detox. After initial discussions, the group recorded they average just over 3 hours of screen time on a school day, increasing to almost 5 hours on the weekend (weekends were significantly harder to stick to than school days!) Now, at the end of the experiment, the children are reflecting on how it has impacted them mentally and physically. They have recalled doing more active tasks during this time such as walking the dog, gymnastics and football as well as taking up new hobbies such as baking, reading new books and Lego. A lot of them have said they have more energy and feel increased positivity, with some suggesting they would like to continue reducing their screen time beyond the detox. They have read more books they would not have had the time to read before and some said their concentration levels had improved at school and they had more focus and energy. Overall the children manage to reduce their screentime during the detox by over 50% with some children cutting out all screens completely and some just making more of a conscious effort to find other activities to do away from screens. Parents have feedback that they were spending more quality time as a family and that they had noticed a real improvement of mood in the household – especially those that had completed the challenge as a whole family. They had more time for other activities and to actually talk together without distractions.