Chit-chat and cook with Élisabeth Simard: interview for the 5@8 Screen-Free Challenge

Trained as a Simplicity Parenting Family Life Coach, she supports families who want to catch their breath again. She holds a bachelor's degree in environmental geography and a master's degree in the environment. Above all, she's a partner, a friend and a mom to 3 wonderful, lively boys! Go get inspired on her blog Ruban Cassette (in French) for even more simplicity.

 

1. How many children do you have, and how old are they?

I have three wonderful boys: Henri, 5 1/2, Paul, 4, and Oscar, 20 months.  

2. How many screens do you have at home? 

We have one TV, which isn't connected to any channel. We stream Netflix on it sometimes, but really rarely… we might sell it, since we don't really use it. We have a laptop, an old broken iPad that we mostly use for podcasts and audiobooks, and my partner has a cell phone. I don't have a phone right now; we'll see whether I get one again soon or not.  

3. On a “normal” weekday, how many hours do you spend with your children?

For the moment, my three kids each have a slightly different schedule: Oscar: he doesn't go to daycare. We're together every day, all day long! Paul: My sweet Paul goes to daycare 3 days a week. I take him by bus in the morning without rushing, and then he comes back in the evening with my partner. On those days, we're together about 4 hours. The other two weekdays, he's with Oscar and me all day. Henri: Henri goes to kindergarten, but since we live a 2-minute walk from the school, I take him in the morning without much of a rush, then I pick him up for lunch (he has almost 2 hours free), and then I pick him up again at 3:15 p.m. and we're together until bedtime in the evening. That's about 6 or 7 hours together a day, depending on when he gets up and goes to bed.  

4. How many hours a day do you spend on screens? 

I spend about 2 or 3 hours a day on screens. Obviously, during certain periods of my life it's more than that, like when I'm writing a book or creating a new program. Right now, my screen time is split between answering messages here and there (about an hour spread throughout the day during quiet moments), plus a show with my partner in the evening once the kids are in bed (after 8 p.m.!). During the periods when I'm working more, I add about 2 hours of work on the computer to that.  

5. What habit have you lost because of (or thanks to) technology?

Phoning. I'll admit it, I've always hated talking on the phone. It's always made me really uncomfortable. With technology, I'll admit, I send texts…  

6. What's the one app you can't do without on your cell phone?

I don't have a cell phone at the moment, but when I do, I can't do without the Messages app and the Calendar. Texting is how I communicate most with my friends and family. Otherwise, I love Instagram. I try not to spend much time on it, but it's by far the social media platform I love the most. I have real friends there, and we're a wonderful community that supports each other and shares a great deal.  

7. Which app should you delete?

Facebook! And I did, exactly a year ago, and I'm doing just fine without it. For me, that platform was a waste of time. Now I use it only at specific, set times, and that's perfect as it is.  

8. Is it hard to manage your own screen time?

Not really, no. Sometimes when I get carried away with a project or a subject, I have a harder time stopping for a while, but I feel so out of sorts physically and mentally when I spend too much time in front of a screen that it's not long before I'm back to my usual use.  

9. Do you have a screen rule at home?

Yes! We have a well-established screen schedule for the kids, which prevents a lot of requests and endless negotiations. My two older ones get one viewing period (about 1 hour) every two weeks. My little Oscar doesn't watch any at all. I'm not comfortable with the idea of putting on a show before the age of two and a half or 3. There are no games on the phone, the iPad or the computer, and since it's always been that way, nobody questions it. For my part, since I spend a lot of time with the kids and want to stay consistent, I make an effort not to be in front of my computer or my phone when they're around, except to send a message to my partner or put on music, etc. When I do use them, I talk to the kids about it and tell them what I'm doing, so they realize it's a tool and not just something that absorbs my attention. I want to give them that example, even though it's not always easy for me.  

10. Are you more airplane mode or FOMO (fear of missing out)?

Airplane mode all the way! I'm the JOMO type (Joy of missing out) :)  

Rapid-fire round:

 

11. Your favourite board game?

Good old playing cards, or Taiga with the kids.

12. Your favourite children's book?

“Tout dessiner comme par magie” from Éditions Marabout

13. Your favourite app for little ones?

I don't know any!

14. Your favourite family outing?

Walks in the forest, without a shadow of a doubt! Then our journaling sessions about the discoveries we made during our outing in nature.

15. The toy that can captivate your kids for hours?

Lego blocks and drawing. As part of the “5@8 Screen-Free Challenge,” Élisabeth suggests chatting and cooking by MAKING BREAD DOUGH. A SIMPLY fantastic recipe! Download for free the recipe! Don't hesitate to share photos of your 5@8s on social media using #Défi5a8sansécrans