A parent of two children, aged 13 and 11, initiated a digital detox weekend to address increased screen time in their family. Struggling to balance technology use, they noticed each family member becoming absorbed in devices, often at the expense of relationships. After a moment of realization when the parent felt unheard by their child due to screens, they proposed a weekend without any digital devices. Despite initial protests from their kids, the detox led to creativity and focused family time, turning into a valuable reset and reconnection experience.
The idea for a digital detox didn’t come out of nowhere. Over the past few months, I noticed my kids were reaching for their tablets and phones more often, whether it was for games, educational apps or even getting some help from AI for their homework.
The breaking point was when I called my son’s name three times, and he didn’t even hear me because he was so absorbed in his screen. That’s when I realized we needed a reset.
I pitched the idea of a weekend-long digital detox to my family. I expected some resistance, and I wasn’t wrong. My 13-year-old protested... My 11-year-old tried negotiating for 'just a little bit' of screen time.
To ensure we remained fully present, we informed close relatives and friends about our digital detox and kept a landline phone available for any emergencies.
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