Screen-Free Day At Children's Beach A Huge Success

To The editor: The overwhelming support and enthusiasm of the Nantucket Community for the island’s first Screen-Free Day on August 17^th was amazing. This letter is to thank you for making the day without devices filled with pure fun, connections, and freedom.

You came by the hundreds and shared in the 16 different activities/tables that filled the day. You made so many beautiful bracelets. 150 tee shirts were tie-dyed and Fairwinds ran out of flowerpots, seeds, and shovels! 150 heart Screen Free stickers were handed out before noon and 50+ kids learned yoga poses on the stage. Hundreds of chocolate chip cookies were "tested and tasted” in the ACK Cookie Contest. And dozens played dodgeball, and tag football with the Nantucket High School Whalers players. Scores of young children learned the joys of playing with cool materials like shaving cream. Letter-writing was a huge hit for many unfamiliar with putting pen to beautiful stationery.

The youth of the island shared perceptive and poignant feelings about going screen-free. Comments included: ‘feeling free' .. 'at peace' .. ‘calm' .. ‘productive' .. ‘relaxed' .. 'enjoying time with myself' .. 'connecting with family' .. 'being mindful.’ As much as we benefit from our devices, children recognize what they are giving up, keenly citing the benefits of off-screen time. Hurray! That was the goal of the day to remind us that a full life of imagination, self-expression, and personal interaction means a healthy balance.

Savvy and concerned parents shared how tough it is to set individual family guidelines when friends and neighbors have widely different views. “It takes a Village” is Unite for Safe Social Media’s foundational tenet – the US Surgeon General and Jonathan Haidt also agree that collaborative action by a set of parents is what it takes.

For more information about Unite for Safe Social Media, go to: www.uniteforsafesocialmedia.com

Sponsored by Kids Unfiltered and Unite for Safe Social Media, the success came from the tremendous generosity of our donors, business participants and table sponsors.

Many thanks, Nantucket!

Screen Free Day 2 will be back next summer!

Chris Vineis, Unite for Safe Social Media
TJ Grant, Kids Unfiltered