We live in an age when kids and teens, aged 8 to 18, spend an average of more than seven hours each day looking at screens (source: CBSNews); 200 million children are currently playing one video game (Fortnite)!

The current research on how much screen time a child should be exposed to is around 2 hours per day. Any parent can see their child's behaviour change after too much time on the iPad or Xbox. 

Is it possible to get children away from screens and do something productive?

Wouldn't it be great if kids wanted to do something other than play video games? 

Let me introduce Thomas. He is a very special young man who at 10 years old, is the youngest person to send us a completed Masterpiece By Numbers photo. Thomas' grandmother bought him a Masterpiece By Numbers for Christmas, and he spent 2 weeks painting it. He loved it so much that he spent some of his own Christmas money on another painting.

Thomas deals with some challenges at school, but he was so proud of his painting that he took it to school to show his classmates.

I am sure you will agree that in an age when all children seem to be glued to a screen, it is wonderful to see Thomas expressing himself in an artistic way.

Since Thomas loves painting so much, we have made him our monthly prize winner. We are sending him a free painting, and he has chosen Surfing Dolphins.

We shared Thomas' photo on our Facebook page and the response was overwhelming. Thomas' mother, grandmother and other family members were thrilled with how supportive the Masterpiece By Numbers community was.

Thomas' mother has spoken to his school about encouraging different activities for the children and we are ready to support her in any way that we can.