Steer Your Kids Away from Electronics and Back to Nature with Missouri Kids Unplugged

As parents, sometimes we need to take the iPad out of our kids’ hands and stick a fishing pole in its place. Or, turn off Madden NFL 17 and actually throw the pigskin around without a controller getting in the way.

I’ll be the first to admit it – in my busy, electronics-driven life, I don’t always set the best example for my own little ones. It’s just as hard for me to turn off Facebook/Twitter/Netflix and head outdoors as it is for my kids (I mean, have you see The Crown?!).

But right outside St. Louis in Jefferson County, one local family is offering screen time-obsessed families an escape in the great outdoors. Through Missouri Kids Unplugged (MKU), Tony and Amy Krieg have opened their farm and a world of excitement to any child in the region – with new adventures planned for Spring 2017.

Giving kids the chance to be kids

The Kriegs weren’t strangers to our growing reliance on technology – with four kids of their own, they were growing incredibly irritated with society’s devotion to the electronics overlord. One night at dinner, their frustration hit a boiling point as they sat back and watched a birthday party unfold in ways they never expected.

“There were maybe 15 kids there, and eight of them were on their electronics the whole time,” said Tony Krieg. “They just weren’t socially engaged with the party. Even when everyone was singing ‘Happy Birthday’ or the little boy was opening his presents, there was barely a nod from the kids to acknowledge him. We thought, what are we doing to ourselves? Our families and kids don’t know how to interact anymore!”

That’s when the Kriegs made a decision – to share their 167-acre farm in Dittmer, Mo. with the public, inviting kids of all ages to enjoy their ponds, creeks and hiking trails so they can disconnect from electronics and reconnect with each other. Together with friends and family, the Kriegs launched MKU in 2015 to expand access to nature with programs that reinforced the importance of curbing technology use.

From April through October, MKU partners with local and state conservation departments, nonprofit organizations and businesses to host free, outdoor events once a month centered on a particular theme. Over the past two years, kids have been treated to Heavy Equipment Day, where SWAT Humvees, Air Evac helicopters and ATV-driven trains took over the Kriegs’ farm, as well as Wild Animal Day featuring petting zoos and visits from the Wild Bird Sanctuary, and Paddle Day where kids ages four through 65 tried their hands at paddle boarding, kayaking and canoeing.

According to Krieg, while the action-packed theme days are among their most popular, it’s the activities that get kids closer to nature that have the biggest impact. “Our Fishing Days are just amazing. We have our lake fully stocked, so probably 95 percent of the kids catch a fish. There are hundreds of kids who catch their first fish right on the property. Fishing is my passion, and to see the look on these kids’ faces when they reel in their first catch is just amazing.”

Another beloved activity? The simple act of skipping rocks.  “We get groups of 50 kids here, and none of them have ever skipped rocks before,” said Krieg. “They’ll sit there for an hour just learning how to do it.”

For MKU vice-president Rodney Bickel and other volunteers, witnessing the effects that come with sunshine, fresh air and unencumbered exploration is worth every minute they spend planning their annual events.

“We strive to make every event unique,” he remarked. “When a helicopter lands or a hot air balloon launches from the property, it opens new experiences for every child. The Krieg family burdens a lot of the cost, but they’re driven to keep it free by partnering with organizations across the region so every kid gets opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t.”

In addition to free event weekends, the Krieg farm is also available for school and day camp trips. Since launching two years ago, more than 3,000 kids and their families have descended on the farm for fun and friendship in the sun.

The impact of going screen-free

The need to get kids outside is more crucial now than ever. According to Common Sense Media, tweens spend four-and-a-half hours on electronics each day with teens hitting up to seven hours. While minimum exposure to electronics can help with reflexes, coordination and language, too much is detrimental to a child – cognitively, emotionally and socially.

Said Krieg, “Research has found too much screen time can lead to a higher risk of ADHD, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. But as a business owner, what I saw day-to-day was a growing lack of personal communications skills. Many of the Millennials I hired didn’t look me in the eye or shake my hand. They preferred to have instructions over email or text, and when we needed face time, they almost seemed lost.”

“We all have to have time to disconnect, reconnect and learn personal skills to stay grounded,” he added. “Sometimes that means just going outside and getting dirty or running barefoot through the grass. Those little things make all the difference.”

For MKU, the drive to disconnect continues to grow with a lineup of exciting events planned this spring. To be part of the event unveiling and to help the organization continue serving kids across the region, you’re invited to join MKU for its 2017 Charity Fundraiser Banquet to be held on Friday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. at the Festus-Crystal City Elks Club in Crystal City. This annual event includes a catered dinner, silent/live auction, raffles, and door/attendance prizes. Tickets are $40 for adults; $20 for kids. To learn more, or to stay on top of events once they’re announced, visit the MKU website at missourikidsunplugged.org.

Through donations and sponsorships, MKU can continue its mission and expand its programs to give kids – and their parents – a new experience in their own backyard and the opportunity to make memories that will last for years to come.

“We’re here to take kids back to the basics we enjoyed growing up,” said Krieg. “Too often, we don’t offer opportunities to our kids because we don’t think they’ll like them. But I see parents’ minds blown away as they watch their kid hook a worm or touch a slimy fish. There’s a whole world for kids to explore when we all shut down the electronics and look beyond the screen.”