Categories
Just For Fun Turks Caicos Information

How to Avoid Constant Screen Time on Summer Vacation

Mom and Dad are taking a break, too.

Summer vacation is just around the corner. For children it typically means freedom from the day-to-day routine of school. However, for parents the words “summer vacation” tend to conjure up a dilemma: how to make sure devices and screens don’t fill every waking minute of every day for two months.

Too much screen time has indeed been linked to sensory overload, lack of sleep, diminished ability to recognize emotions and even genuine addiction. On top of that, by keeping themselves glued to their screens, your kids may be missing out on many of the summer pastimes that have marked childhood since time began, from going to the beach, exploring the neighborhood with their friends to simply dealing with being bored.

In limiting screen time for kids, you are working to create a healthy “play diet” that balances many types of play. You can keep screen time as part of this play diet, while also ensuring your kids get in some social, physical, unstructured, and creative play.

But how to achieve this balance?

Here are some tips for limiting screen time while helping your kids enjoy a fun and memorable summer. And remember: success comes when parents enforce the family rules while demonstrating by by example.

Tips for Limiting Screen Time in Summer

Kids these days use their devices for everything: research for school projects, texting with friends, letting us know they’re safe when they’re out, as well as for gaming and consuming media. Yet kids need to spend time outdoors or reading books, or simply just thinking.

However, it can be difficult to set and then reliably and consistently enforcing rules. As with most everything else in life, developing a game plan can help pave the way for success.

summer screen time with kids

Tip 1: Be Realistic

“Forbidden fruit is the tastiest,” says Lucy Jo Palladino, a clinical psychologist and author of Parenting in the Age of Attention Snatchers. Completely banning screen time may simply double the desire of your kids to get online.

Instead, be realistic: devices are a part of everyday life for kids. Accept that fact, and create a flexible plan that manages screen time.

Tip 2: Start With an Endpoint

Negotiate the length and amount of screentime with your kids ahead of time. Either set firm time limits, or limit screentime to the duration of a specific program. That way, one show won’t flow into the other, and you can avoid commercials.

Because most games don’t have built-in endings (and are, in fact, designed to make kids play as long as possible), set a timer or some other cue that says “time to stop.”

Tip 3: Help Kids Balance Their Day

Kids need guidance from you on a daily plan that includes a little bit of time for everything. Kids whose parents make an effort to limit media use spend less time with media than their peers do, according to a study. As parents, it can be easy to nag kids to try to get them to do things, but this will not necessarily work with limiting screen time.

Instead, it’s best to work on a concrete plan that structures activities throughout the day. This gives kids a sense of predictability, and also lets them know what your expectations are. They can also more easily refrain from turning to devices when bored by focusing on some other activity.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ worksheets to create a family media plan that can help you and your kids balance their day.

Tip 4: Walk the Talk 

If you want to make sure your kids reduce screen time this summer, it’s important to model behavior. It’s tempting for adults to keep reaching for your phone to check email, texts, Facebook, or the news. But your kids will be the first to call you out for not “walking the talk.” Plus, they’ll pick up habits from you.

Model the media behavior, and enjoy your summer, too!

Why Not Take a Family Vacation in Turks and Caicos?

If you want to make sure your kids have plenty of things to do besides stare at a screen, why not plan a family vacation in Turks and Caicos? Check out our blog post 5 Fun Activities In Turks and Caicos to get some ideas about what to do while you’re here.

Categories
Announcements Things To Do In The Caribbean Turks Caicos Information

#SandsSelfie Turks & Caicos Photo Contest Winner Announced!

Thanks to all our guests who participated in our March #SandsSelfie photos – the photos you submitted on our Facebook & Instagram pages were simply outstanding and we loved seeing all your smiling faces! The results of our March #SandsSelfie Turks & Caicos photo contest are finally in –  and we’re excited to announce the winning photo submission that will be awarded a gift certificate for a 3-Night Stay in a luxurious one-bedroom oceanview suite at The Sands:

Here’s the Winning #SandsSelfie photo that was posted onto our Facebook wall by Erin Katsman-Lesynski:

Screen Shot 2016-04-05 at 4.30.52 PM

This photo captures one of the many reasons why families continue to come stay with us at our top-rated Providenciales resort and why we were named a “2015 Family Favorite Hotel” by Family Vacation Critic. Not only are we situated on Provo’s world-famous Grace Bay Beach (recently named #1 beach in the world by TripAdvisor), but we offer a plethora of family friendly free amenities for guests to have even more fun under the sun during their Turks & Caicos trip including watersports equipment, snorkeling gear, bicycles, 3 swimming pools and more – in addition to offering affordable rates for spacious studio and suite accommodations that are complete with all the comforts of home.

Congratulations and thank you for sharing this terrific family photo with us, Erin!

We encourage all our guests to continue to share their #SandsSelfie photos with us through our resort’s Facebook PageInstagram and Pinterest pages. We now have convenient Sands at Grace Bay “Selfie frames” that you can use for even more photo taking fun – and the frames are also a great way to capture your incredible memories during your stay with us.

Still haven’t planned your summer vacation? We’re offering a 4th Night Free special offer for spring and summer travel beginning this May and it’s valid on ALL room categories – so hurry to book your summer stay for LESS! Contact us today or make your reservations online.

 

 

Categories
Announcements Things To Do In The Caribbean Turks Caicos Information

Enter Our March #SandsSelfie Contest For A Chance To Win A 3-Night Resort Stay At The Sands at Grace Bay

The Sands at Grace Bay is kicking off another #SandsSelfie social media contest for the month of March – where both current and past guests who post a resort “selfie” photo onto the resort’s Facebook or Instagram pages, will be entered to win a future 3-night stay in a luxurious one-bedroom Oceanview suite.

The contest encourages guests to share fun and memorable selfie photos of their Turks & Caicos trip and stay at The Sands at Grace Bay, located on Grace Bay Beach – recently named the World’s #1 Beach by TripAdvisor’s 2016 Travelers’ Choice Awards. In addition to our world-famous beach destination – our resort has also been named one of the, “Best Hotels in Turks & Caicos” for 2016 by the U.S. News & World Report and received a Couples Choice Award from the popular wedding planning site WeddingWire.com.

The steps to enter our SandsSelfie contest are simple:

1) guests take a #SandsSelfie photo from the resort property – and can use our new Sands at Grace Bay “Selfie frames” that will be conveniently placed at selfie stations by our pool and also by our award-winning beach

2) post your selfie onto the resort’s Facebook (Facebook.com/thesandsatgracebay) or Instagram (Instagram.com/thesandstc) account using the #SandsSelfie hashtag

3) and “follow” the resort on Facebook and Instagram to receive winner notification

The #SandsSelfie contest is happening now through March 31st. When the contest ends, one #SandsSelfie photo taken on the resort property will be randomly selected from either the resort’s Facebook or Instagram account as the winner. Photo entries must include the hashtag #SandsSelfie in their photo descriptions during the contest period, to be entered. Those who enter must “follow” the resort Facebook or Instagram pages, to receive the winner notification. One winner will receive a gift certificate for a free 3-night stay in a 1-bedroom Oceanview Suite for a future visit to The Sands at Grace Bay – that can be redeemed within one year from the date it’s awarded.

The Sands at Grace Bay still has availability during the upcoming popular spring travel months, but travelers will need to reserve their stay soon as space is limited. You can check our resort availability online via www.thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com website or call toll-free from the U.S. (877) 777-2637; from Canada (800) 567-5327; or contact a travel agent for reservations.

SAN 11539 Selfie Contest Poster

 

 

 

Categories
Announcements Turks Caicos Information

#SandsSelfie Turks and Caicos Contest Winners Announced!

After receiving over 420 entries, the results of our Winter #SandsSelfie Turks and Caicos contest are finally in – and we are excited to announce the “WINNING” photo submission that will be awarded the grand prize of a gift certificate for a 3-night stay in a luxurious One-Bedroom Oceanview Suite at The Sands at Grace Bay! Because we received so many terrific photo submissions from this 3-month contest, we’ve also decided to award a 2nd and 3rd place winner – and all #SandsSelfie winners and prizes are featured below.

Since we kicked off our SandsSelfie social media photo contest on December 1st, we have received over 200 #SandsSelfie photo submissions via Instagram and 221 total photo submissions posted onto our Facebook wall! We sincerely enjoyed all the creative, fun, and breathtaking SandsSelfie photos that our guests shared with us during their Turks & Caicos trip and stay at The Sands and hope you enjoy the 3 “winning” photos below:

The #1 WINNING Photo that was posted onto our Facebook wall by Kristen Rasmussen was taken from the crystal clear waters just offshore our stretch of Grace Bay Beach, shortly after getting married to her husband Ryan Rasmussen. This photo captures one of the many reasons why couples from around the world come to celebrate their weddings at our Providenciales resort, known for our award-winning beach, warm ocean waters, and fun amenities that couples enjoy using with their closest family members and friends. Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Rasmussen – who have won our main prize of one complimentary 3-night stay in a 1-bedroom Oceanview Suite! We hope to see you for your honeymoon!

winner 1
1st Place Winner of #SandsSelfie Contest!

 

Our 2nd Place #SandsSelfie winner, who will receive a gift certificate for a complimentary 2-Night Stay at The Sands at Grace Bay in a 1 Bedroom Oceanview Suite, is Aimee Madison Francart who posed with her husband Matt Francart for a Christmas themed Santa hat selfie in December, alongside our famous JoJo the dolphin beach sign. This sign is treasured amongst our resort guests who have had the opportunity to spot the island’s famous and friendly JoJo the dolphin during their stay with us here in Providenciales.

Winner 2
2nd Place Winner of #SandsSelfie Contest

 

Our 3rd Place #SandsSelfie winner, who will receive a gift certificate for a complimentary 1-Night Stay at The Sands at Grace Bay in a 1-Bedroom Oceanview Suite, is Brittany Roderick who posted a terrific snorkeling photo from our crystal clear ocean waters. This photo captures another thing our guests love to do during their stay at The Sands – enjoy our complimentary watersports equipment and snorkeling gear for endless fun in the sun along our breathtaking Grace Bay Beach.

3rd Place Winner of #SandsSelfie Contest!
3rd Place Winner of #SandsSelfie Contest!

We will be contacting the three #SandsSelfie winners shortly via their personal Facebook and/or Instagram accounts, with more details on their gift certificate resort stay prizes! Thanks again to all of you who participated in our #SandsSelfie contest – and we hope that you continue to share your favorite #SandsSelfies on our Facebook and Instagram pages during your future stays at The Sands. We look forward to seeing you all again soon!