Hi Reader,

This week, I had a conversation with a good friend who shared how frustrated she feels. Her kids are spending nearly the entire day on their screens. They wake up, grab their devices, and sit for hours—often without even brushing their teeth. She finds herself constantly nagging, trying to get them off their screens, and feeling like it’s a losing battle.

Honestly, I get it. That inclination to just sit back and be entertained is something we all relate to. Even as adults, we can easily fall into the trap of mindlessly scrolling our phones without realizing how much time has passed. We’re all wired to seek out easy, instant gratification.

But here’s the problem: the more time we spend passively consuming on screens, the less true satisfaction and fulfillment we feel.

Real satisfaction comes from doing. From working toward something. From meaningful experiences. From overcoming a challenge.

This is what we want for our kids too. We need to gently guide them toward meaningful activity, so they can look back on this summer with a sense of pride and accomplishment—not as a blur of passive screen time.

Here are three simple shifts you can start with:

1. Establish a morning routine

Start the day with basic habits: brush teeth, get dressed, make the bed, eat breakfast, and tidy up. This creates a rhythm of movement and small wins that build momentum for the rest of the day.

2. Give them real responsibility

Kids thrive when they feel useful. Let them contribute around the house—more than you think they can. It builds confidence, pride, and a deeper sense of belonging.

3. Help them start a meaningful project

Find something that matters to them and can grow throughout the summer. My older son, for example, is learning to read and write in Hebrew, finishing his math book, and repairing our household bicycles! And yes—he still gets some screen time (about 1–2 hours a day), but it’s balanced by meaningful effort and learning.

I’d love to hear from you:

• How’s your summer going so far?
• What challenges are you facing?
• What responsibilities are your kids taking on?
• What kind of projects can you help them get started with?

I also released a short podcast minisode on this exact topic where I dive deeper and share more ideas for summer routines, responsibilities, and project ideas.

🎧 You can listen to the episode here​

📺 Or watch it on my new YouTube channel here​

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Wishing you a summer filled with connection, creativity, and purpose.

Warmly, Efrat