My neighbors’ kids never seem to go outside. On the rare occasions they do go outside, I will see them glued to a phone or tablet screen. The whole family is the same way and I used to judge them for it. Until one day, I walked into my house and every member of my family was in the living room playing video games, scrolling Instagram, putting things on Pinterest, and I realized I had my phone in my hand mid-text.
This is the landscape of the modern American family. We are hooked to our digital conveniences and it is having an effect. Studies have found that teens spend up to nine hours a day in front of a screen. Considering the fact that they spend about 7 hours a day at school, between screen time and school, your teens may not be interacting with the family much. Other research has also found that less screen time leads to happier kids, though no screen time isn’t necessary to get the effect.
What can we get from this information? That we are addicted to technology and all in desperate need of some digital detox, parents included.
Working With Teens to Be in the Moment
My goal isn’t to demonize technology. I work from home and would probably wither away without my electronics. Likewise, I think that internet, gaming and even social media all have their place in raising happy and healthy youngsters.
So what is my goal when it comes to encouraging a digital detox? To be more in the moment and to make my kids look around at the world in the process. To lessen their reliance on technology and teach them about the real world, with plenty of opportunities for real-life interactions.
Here are some ways we can all break free of our tech and meet this goal:
• Set a Turn Off Time – In my home, the time to turn off phones for the night is 7 PM. This is earlier than many families choose but I find it works for us. It gives us time to talk, play a board game and gets us settled in for the evening. One of the activities my kids enjoy before bed is to read books, something their teachers are thrilled about.
• Require Outdoor Time – Time outdoors is critical for overall health. We all go outside and play, hang out, garden, go to pools, take walks. The way it has changed our family dynamic and made us all happier is incredible, bringing us all closer together.
• Sit Down For Dinner – One of the most important things you can do is sit down for a meal. Any meal is a good option, though families usually have more time for sit down family dinners. It gives everyone a chance to reconnect, stay involved and spend time together.
You may have noticed that the three things above are super simple. You might even think they are too simple. But they are tried and true, easy ways to get away from screens for a while and be a happier and healthier family unit.
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