When Screens Switch Off ~ Finding Adventure in the Real World

The Day the Jungle-Net Broke author Marleen Lammers delves deeper into what happens when there are no screens and we discover that we can still have fun!

Screens have become our constant companions. They help us work, learn, and stay entertained - but they can also absorb us more than is good for us. We all know what that’s like; an hour turns into two, and the day slips away. Finding (and sticking to!) a good balance has become a big challenge. And for those of us responsible for kids, it’s also about finding healthy boundaries for them.

When kids have time away from screens, it opens the door to all the things that spark imagination and growth: building forts, drawing pictures, riding bikes, and getting lost in the imaginary world of a books. These offline moments help children develop creativity, social skills, and problem- solving in ways a screen never could. But kids might need a nudge at times, a bit of encouragement to go and have a real-life adventure.

A New Picture Book that Encourages Offline Fun

In my new book, The Day the Jungle-Net Broke, it’s a monkey called Miles that gets this nudge. He lives in an i-tree, a tree with a screen attached to it that guides him through his days; it wakes him up in the morning, tells him when to do his stretches and exercises, and allows him to tree- time with his cousin Mason, who lives a few forests away. But one morning, just as Miles is about to order bananas through his Just Peel app, the jungle-net goes off and his screen f

reezes. Miles initially panics, but when he’s forced out of his i-tree, fun things start to happen. As it turns out, the forest is filled with wonderful nuts to be found, great animal-friends to be made, and wild adventures to be had.

I’d love to think that this story might encourage kids to find offline adventures of their own. Perhaps they won’t involve collecting nuts or befriending monkeys, but they could be scavenger hunts, backyard picnics, or board games. Or, perhaps even better, the book might provide that alternative itself; a quiet shared between a child and a caregiver, a moment away from screens, drawn into a fun and fictional world.

It’s All About Balance

At the end of my story, when Miles and his friends have become comfortable in their offline world, the jungle-net comes back on, and screens all over the forest come back to life. The animals are excited to jump back onto their i-trees, but they also decide to mix their time online with moments spent exploring their jungle. It’s all about balance, after all.

Instead of demonising screens altogether, I wanted to stress that it’s perfectly fine to enjoy the digital world - as long as we don’t forget the importance of occasionally putting our phones and tablets down and stepping into the real world. There’s a lot to discover.

A Screen-Free Fun Bucket List for Kids

Next time it’s time to switch off the screens, try one of these adventures:

•           Build the coziest blanket fort ever (bonus points if you add snacks!).

•           Go on a treasure hunt—can you find the coolest leaf, the shiniest rock, or the stick that

looks like a magic wand?

•           Turn up the music and have a dance party in the living room.

•           Become a chef for the day—whip up cookies, cupcakes, or even your own wild pizza

creation.

•           Put on a play with your toys or stuffed animals (lights, camera, action!).

•           Have a backyard or living-room picnic, even if it’s just peanut butter sandwiches.

•           Make your very own board game with paper, markers, and dice.

•           Draw, paint, or invent something new out of cardboard and tape.

•           Look up at the stars (or clouds) and see what shapes and stories you can find.