Making choices about what we bring into our homes or put in our children’s hands has been a long-standing issue I would like to examine. Today, Erin Loechner shares her journey and how we can become an opt-out family. Listen in for some much-needed inspiration.
What We Talked About
- Erin’s journey from being a social media influencer to embracing a low-tech lifestyle
- Simple steps to reduce tech dependency in your life
- How she creates and manages her low-tech family
- What parents can do to follow the principles of a low-tech family
- The principles behind “people over pixels.”
- How tech can hinder our children’s need for independence
Things to Remember
“Parenting is… a lot of pivoting, a lot of listening, a lot of following your child’s lead. It’s a dance.”
“Be more engaging than the algorithm.”
“As parents, we have to model the behavior we want to see and go first.”
“Sometimes we just have to be willing to fail to be able to find out what we’re comfortable with and what we’re not comfortable with.”
“People over pixels.”
“Move slow and mend things.”
“If we’re not capitalizing on the low stakes opportunities, we’re certainly not going to be skilled or practiced or well versed when it comes to the high stakes opportunities.”
“Honor the weight of parenting while still holding it very loosely.”
“Parents can connect far better than how technology wants to connect with us.”
― Erin Loechner
Additional Resources
The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can’t
EP 153 Lenore Skenazy Children Need Their Independence
Junnifa and Simone’s course: “Raising Children in a Time of Technology.”
Let’s Continue the conversation…
Now, Erin and I want to hear from you!
How can opting out of the digital world lead to a more fulfilling family life? Listen in as my guest, Erin Loechner shares her inspiring stories.
Remember, The Art of Parenting was created for you. If you have any suggestions for experts, I should have on the show or parenting questions you want to be answered. Please let me know here.
More About My Guest
Founder of the global tech-free movement The Opt-Out Family, Erin Loechner is a former social media influencer who left a million fans to live a low-tech lifestyle and is now teaching others how to do the same.
Her cutting-edge work has been praised in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Huffington Post, and the Today Show.
When she’s not scrawling on her trusty steno pad, Erin, her husband, and their three kids spend their days chasing alpenglow, reading Kipling, and biking to town for more tortillas.
Websites:
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