From Monday to May 6, it’s a week-long hibernation for screens across the country, and a local store owner is in on it.

Whimzy owner Tami Staker is encouraging children to take a week off of screen time as part of the national Screen-Free Week celebration starting Monday. This is the first year Whimzy is participating, although Staker said she knows other toy stores have jumped on the bandwagon.

“I just thought it was a really cool idea,” Staker said.

At Whimzy, children who participate can pick up a card that asks them to cross out a box for each day they are screen free. The pledge card says children agree not to watch television, play video computer games or surf the web unless it is necessary for schoolwork. If children do complete the week without screens and have the card signed by an adult, they can return the card to Whimzy for a $10 Whimzy Cash prize.

“I just think it’s important for kids to be kids,” Staker said. She said she does not sell screen-based games, and likes to encourage play, pretend and creativity.

“Most of our stuff requires thought and imagination,” she said.

However, Staker, Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea OB-GYN Dr. Jodi Schulz and Mayo Clinic Health System in Rochester clinical psychologist Dr. Craig Sawchuk all said the week could prove challenging.

“It’s going to be hard to do, and I think that this is well-intentioned, but sometimes it might be challenging, like trying to do weight loss or starting an exercise program … we’re fighting against established habits,” Sawchuk said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages screen time for children younger than 18 months. For children ages 2 to 5, it recommends a one-hour per day screen time limit. For children 6 and older, it recommends a consistent screen time limit.

“A lot of our kids these days get a lot more time,” Schulz said of a one- to two-hour limit. Schulz noted the links between screen time and obesity, poor sleeping habits and hyperactivity.

“We know that it inhibits their ability to interact with adults, it inhibits their creativeness, their learning … and then also just their health in general,” she said.

Schulz also noted the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends supervised screen time for children.

Sawchuk said screen time can be harmful — or beneficial — perhaps not due to time, but to content. The rule of thumb he suggests is to rate someone’s mood every five to 10 minutes they spend on a screen. If their mood is declining, they should consider changing their activity.

But screens can also be used in healthy ways, he said; for example, to access a virtual support system. In their recommendation against screen time before the age of 18 months, the American Academy of Pediatrics excludes the use of video-chatting.

Nonetheless, Sawchuk said the week is a good idea to promote social connection and face-to-face communication.

“I really like the idea of the Screen-Free Week that’s happening next week,” Schulz said. “I think, I think parents are really amazed when they actually sit down and do that. … I think it’s important for parents to do this with their children.”

Tips for managing screen time

For people looking for educational ways to use screen time, Schulz recommends checking with their children’s school. She said teachers may have links or recommendations for different games or resources that are appropriate for your children.

Consider a screen-free morning and screen-free bedtime. Schulz said it can make the transitions easier for parents and children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends designating media-free times together as a family, and also designating media-free locations at homes. The bedroom can be a good place to start.

If considering joining in on Screen-Free Week, Sawchuk recommends planning ahead. What activities would someone like to do together to fill that time? Consider planning jointly and come up with good topics to discuss as a family to engage people. The hope or intent, Sawchuk said, is not to consider putting screens away as a punishment, but to reinforce it with other activities that draw the family together.