Screen-Free Day: Vanya and Friends Discover the Joy of Real Communication

One day, Anna Petrovna suggested the children have a "Screen-Free Day." Vanya, Lisa, and Pasha were surprised to hear what that meant. Anna Petrovna explained that today they would not be using tablets, TV, or any other screens. Instead, they would spend time playing board games and talking with each other. The children took in this idea with curiosity, though they didn’t quite know what to expect.

The first game Anna Petrovna suggested was a board game with dice and pieces. Vanya was excited because he had never played such games before. Lisa and Pasha also watched with interest as Anna Petrovna explained the rules. The children began to play, rolling the dice and moving their pieces along the board. Vanya was thrilled whenever he rolled the right number to move forward, while Lisa and Pasha cheered each other on with every successful turn.

Soon, the children realized that board games are fun because you can talk, laugh, and share joy together. Vanya found himself not even thinking about watching cartoons, as he was having so much fun with his friends. Anna Petrovna smiled as she saw how engaged the children were and suggested a little competition: whoever reached the finish line first would get a small surprise.

The next game was a card-matching game. Anna Petrovna laid out cards with pictures of animals, and the children had to find matching pairs. Vanya was amazed at how quickly Lisa remembered where each card was. Pasha also tried his best to keep up, watching each move carefully. Vanya realized that in this game, you had to pay attention and remember every detail. When he managed to find two matching cards with tiger cubs, he proudly showed them to his friends, and everyone laughed together.

These games showed the children that fun doesn’t only come from gadgets but from playing together, where listening, supporting, and cheering for each other are what matter. Soon, Lisa suggested another game she knew: “Guess Who I Am?” She put on a blindfold, and Vanya and Pasha acted out different animals for her to guess. Everyone laughed when Lisa called Pasha a "hedgehog," even though he was pretending to be a bear.

After a snack break, Anna Petrovna suggested a new game where they had to draw. This time, Vanya drew something on the board, and Lisa and Pasha had to guess what it was. Vanya tried his best, smiling as he drew a little house, a tree, and the sun. Pasha guessed first that it was a house, and Lisa suggested they draw “happiness”—a tricky task, but the kids had fun discussing how to draw such a complex feeling.

By the end of the day, Vanya noticed that all his friends were happy and cheerful, and no one had even thought about tablets or cartoons. They decided to take a group photo to remember the day, smiling into the camera with pure joy. Anna Petrovna thanked them for their enthusiasm and said that maybe every month, they would have a Screen-Free Day to play and connect more with each other.

Moral: Time spent together without screens helps us get to know each other better, teaches us to enjoy simple things, and helps us appreciate real-life connection. Live games and friendly support make every moment special, and the laughter and joy of friends are real magic that no screen can replace.