Screen Time Battles: How We Stopped Fighting Tech and Started Rebuilding Connection
The Problem
It started one quiet Saturday morning — or at least it should have been quiet.
The coffee was still warm in my hands, the sunlight creeping across the kitchen table, and there he was — our Squish — sitting just a few feet away, eyes locked on a glowing screen.
I remember calling his name once… then twice.
Nothing.
He didn’t even blink.
It wasn’t that he was misbehaving; it was that I couldn’t reach him.
And if I’m being honest, I wasn’t much better.
My phone was sitting right next to me — half a dozen notifications lighting up like tiny sparks pulling my attention away every few seconds.
We were both there, in the same room… and yet we weren’t together.
That was the moment it hit me.
Realizing we had a Problem
Somewhere between school, work, exhaustion, and “just five more minutes,” our screens had slowly taken over the spaces where laughter and connection used to live.
It wasn’t malicious or intentional.
It just happened.
But when I saw the distance growing — when our conversations started to sound more like reminders than connection — I realized we had a problem.
Not a tech problem… a time problem.
We were missing each other.
And I knew something had to change.
But I didn’t want to throw out the tablet or ban technology — that felt impossible and honestly unfair.
Instead, I wanted to fill our lives with something better.
Something that made screens naturally less appealing.
That’s when we started creating what eventually became our six brands — each one built around a simple idea: what if life felt full enough that we didn’t have to battle over screen time anymore?
How Our Six Brands Help Families Reconnect (and Gently Break Free from Screen Battles)
Here’s how we found balance — one small, intentional change at a time.
Your Yes Day – Rebuilding Joy in the Everyday
When everything feels like “no,” screen time becomes the easy “yes.”
We realized we were saying no to so many small things — messy projects, spontaneous walks, little adventures — all in the name of being tired or busy.
So we created Your Yes Day as a way to say yes again — to simple, doable moments of joy.
From morning mindfulness to mini family challenges, it helps parents (and kids) reconnect with daily life in a way that feels grounding, not exhausting.
It’s not about big changes. It’s about small yeses that make life feel worth showing up for again.
Squish Gardens – Slowing Down Through Nature
We found that when our hands were in the dirt, our hearts slowed down too.
Planting, watering, and watching things grow became a natural antidote to endless scrolling.
Squish Gardens helps families find that same calm — even if it’s just a windowsill herb garden or a few flower pots on the porch.
It’s not about growing plants… it’s about growing presence.
Squish Skills – Learning That Feels Real
Screens often win because they’re instantly rewarding. But when we helped our son build real-world skills, he started feeling that same spark of pride — only it lasted longer.
Squish Skills is all about hands-on learning: simple projects that teach patience, curiosity, and confidence.
It helps turn “I’m bored” into “let’s try this.”
Squish Travels – Turning Travel Time into Connection Time
We started using road trips, day trips, even grocery runs as opportunities to connect again.
Squish Travels was born out of that — our mission to visit all 50 states before our son turns 18. But really, it’s about rediscovering the world together — one adventure (and conversation) at a time.
No tablets needed when there are clouds to name, maps to follow, and stories to share out loud.
Squish Games – Playing the Old-Fashioned Way (With a Twist)
Game time doesn’t have to mean screen time.
Squish Games helped us rediscover how much fun it can be to laugh, compete, and learn together.
From simple card games to skill-based challenges, this brand focuses on reintroducing play that builds IQ, connection, and memory — all while giving screens a well-deserved rest.
When we played with our son, he didn’t need to play against a screen.
Better Together – Relearning How to Talk, Listen, and Laugh
When tech takes over, conversation is often the first thing to go. We used to sit at dinner together and end up talking about… nothing.
Better Together helps bring real conversation back. Whether it’s through guided questions, printable prompts, or simple family rituals, it gives families tools to rebuild communication in small but powerful ways.
It reminded us that connection doesn’t have to be complicated — it just has to be intentional.
A Message to You
We haven’t figured it all out.
There are still days when screens sneak back in, when exhaustion wins, and when we all just need a little quiet.
But what’s different now is that we have a plan.
We have tools.
We have purpose.
And most importantly — we have each other.
If you’re reading this and you’ve felt that same ache — that feeling that your family is drifting into separate corners of the house — I want you to know: you’re not alone.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to begin.
Start small. Say yes to something tiny. Step outside for five minutes. Ask one meaningful question at dinner.
Every little shift brings you closer back to each other.
Because family isn’t about getting it all right — it’s about showing up, even when it’s messy.
From our family to yours —
We’re still learning, still growing, and still choosing connection over convenience, one day at a time.
Because the truth is — we don’t need less tech. We just need more life.
The Browns
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