For Screen-Free Week 2021, we invited the authors from our Screen-Free Week Booklist, in partnership with the Children’s Book Council’s Children’s Book Week, to send in videos of them reading or talking about their books. Enjoy these videos, as submitted by the authors! Here, Gordon Korman, talks a bit about Unplugged and reads an excerpt in honor of Screen-Free Week!

Check out our annual book list here: Annual Booklist

For Screen-Free Week 2021, we invited the authors from our Screen-Free Week Booklist, in partnership with the Children’s Book Council’s Children’s Book Week, to send in videos of them reading or talking about their books. Enjoy these videos, as submitted by the authors! Enjoy Bruno has 100 Friends, read in its original language, Italian, by author Francesca Pirrone.

Check out our annual book list here: Annual Booklist

Each year during Screen-Free Week, we hear from thousands of people who unplugged in a variety of ways. Our CCFC team also takes time to celebrate each year. Since most of our work requires our computers and our team was working remotely, we got creative. So, we set individual goals like getting off social media for the week, taking a walk each day, or taking out some books from the library.

In addition to taking an hour out of the work week to play Pictionary together, a highlight of our staff screen-free activities was MUSHROOM GROWING! Each of our staff members got a kit and the opportunity to grow a crop of oyster mushrooms. Every day for the week, we had to devote a few screen-free moments to caring for our mushrooms and observing their growth. Then, we were tasked with fun, unplugged activities like writing haikus about our mushrooms, rewriting lyrics to a catch song about the mushrooms, recording our knowledge or questions about fungi, and painting or drawing the mushrooms. While one of us was too grossed out to actually grow them, other staff members harvested their mushrooms and made a delicious meal.

Our Haikus

I wonder what com-

Pelled ancient humans to try

These really weird things.

An X in plastic

From nothing blooms tiny lift forces

Mushrooms in a box

“Directions”

Spritz, spritz, spritz we go

What a tasty festering

don’t rinse, don’t repeat

Mushroom Songs

Some people were also lyrically inspired by the growing fungus in their homes. We re-wrote the lyrics to “Rocket Man” by Elton John, “Dancing Queen” by Abba, and “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor.

And here is “I am Fungi” to the tune of “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor (by Rachel):

At first I was afraid, I was petrified

Kept thinking how gross this smelly box of fungus was

But then I spent a couple days misting these tiny little spores

And they grew strong

And we learned how to get along

So maybe I’ll cook

These oyster mushrooms

Or maybe I’ll hand them off to someone else whom mushrooms don’t make spew

But either way someone will enjoy this crop of fantastic fungi

As long as they make it

As long as they don’t crumble and die

Oh no, no, no; they will survive

As long as I know how to mist, they will stay alive

They’ve got at least one more day to live

I’ve got a whole bottle of water to give

They will survive, They are fungi

Hey hey

Our art work

Even though we shared these experiences on Zoom, it was a chance for us to take a break from work, share some laughs, and to be together. Ultimately, we thrived on this little bit of fun(gi) during Screen-Free Week! We can’t wait to celebrate again next year.

From May 3-9, people around the world took the time to rethink their use of digital devices in favor of play, learning, and real connection. From single adults to whole schools, celebrations looked different. And the best thing is, they all count. Screen-Free Week is a no-judgement, do-what-you-can type of celebration!

This year, people sent in photos and wrote to us about what they did. Here are just some of folks’ favorite activities: 

• Visiting a new coffee shop in town
• Picking flowers 
• Playing games
• Painting  with watercolor
• Learning guitar
• Playing Hide and seek
• Doing puzzles
• Going fishing
• Talking and just hanging out
• Camping
• Knitting
• Singing

What was the experience like?

Schools, clubs, families, and individuals celebrated, clocking in screen-free hours ranging from a few hours to a few days to the whole week! Some committed to continuing regular screen-free breaks, especially with the summer on its way in the northern hemisphere. Here’s what some people had to say:

“For me, Screen-Free Week meant doing without personal email and social media.  I used the extra time reading, writing (letters, parenting journal, planner), and realizing I was less frazzled and more patient spending time with my daughter.” -Lauren, MD

“We didn’t miss the screens because we were having so much fun outside!!” -Jacquelyn, MI

“By the end of the week, I was forgetting my phone at home and the kids were fighting less because there were no TV show choices or time to disagree on!” -Jeffrey, CA

“I thought I would have so much extra time at the end of the day, but we found so many other things to do. I don’t know how we ever made time for screens.” -Eileen, NY

One group of music students, with the help of their teacher, also recorded some songs for us in honor of Screen-Free Week. You can check them out on Instagram here.

And, take a look at some photos of people celebrating. Thanks to everyone who sent in photos!

We’re thrilled to see all of the amazing experiences people had during Screen-Free Week. Want to keep screen breaks a regular part of your life? Check out our Screen-Free Saturdays resources! And save the date for Screen-Free Week 2022, May 2-8!