Nowadays, one of the biggest concerns of a lot of parents is how not to let gadgets take over the lives of their young children. However, there are still many parents who are guilty of using gadgets whenever they wanted their child to behave.
In connection with this, former actress and natural parenting advocate, Jennica Garcia encouraged her fellow moms to train their children with a “gadget-free” life.
On March 22, 2019, Jennica shared on her Instagram account the photo of her 3 1/2-year-old eldest daughter while lying on a couch and appears like reading a book.
The 29-year-old mom posted a lengthy caption, where she shared her observations of her eldest child Athena Mori’s behavior on how lessening her screen time taught her to play on her own, and, in the process, lessen her tantrums.
She wrote on Instagram:
“I am sharing this story to encourage parents who raise gadget free children or those who try to limit the exposure of media to continue what you started. In the photo is my eldest, Athena Mori. She is 3 and a half years old. I was looking at glasswares that I can turn into a terrarium for @duwendeinapot at a furniture store. When I was done picking and checked the time, it took me an hour in total. I sat opposite to where Mori was and waited while my husband is waiting in line at the check out counter.”
“I am in awe of how she managed to keep herself busy with no help from me or her Tatay. In her imaginative mind, she turned a simple chair into a washing machine. A candle holder became a watering can and a picture frame became a blackboard (her fingers were her pretend chalk). She came up to me to ask if we can go. I said Tatay needs to pay first. What she did next was open her book rest comfortably on a couch. To think she cannot even read yet! For a whole hour and a half, Mori was such a joy to be with,” she added.
‘Tantrums days’ are now over, Jennica is so glad to see that her daughter realizes that not all things can be obtained or given to her through caring or tantrums.
“Gone are the days when she’d go on a full blown tantrum because she wants to use my phone or is too bored to wait for me while I window shop. She finally understood that whining, screaming, crying will not get her what she wants. Napapahiya pa ko dati sa palengke, sa park, sa mall. Pinagtitinginan kami ng mga tao but here we are now. All our efforts to make her enjoy the simple things in life, our desire for her to know how to play on her own… It paid off! Worth it mga Inay,” Jennica continued.
The mother of two also added that it’s important that parents set a good example to their children since they will mimic what they do.
“Kaya mo yan, be clear on what is allowed, what isn’t while being calm and respectful to the child. Most important of all is modelling the right attitude. You want to refrain from using your phone also when they are awake. Read a book, do hand work, chores and they will mimic this without you asking them to do so. I AM PROUD OF YOU MORI! Mahal na mahal kita anak.”
Jennica Garcia and Uytingco may not be active in the limelight these days, but they appear on TV once in a while. The couple welcomed their first child, Athena Mori, who was born in 2015 and their second child named Alessi in 2018.
source: inquirer